Buddy Hield emerged as an unexpected hero for the Golden State Warriors in their Game 7 matchup against the Houston Rockets, leading the team early before Stephen Curry took control in the final minutes. Hield, who made an impressive nine 3-pointers and scored 33 points, helped the Warriors secure a 103-89 victory, sending them to the Western Conference semifinals. Curry contributed 14 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, and Golden State overcame Houston to advance.
“We were fortunate to make it out of this series,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr. “It was a truly impressive display of perseverance.”
In their upcoming semifinals, the Warriors will face the Timberwolves on Tuesday in Minnesota.
Hield, who had a quiet Game 6, exploded in the first half, hitting six 3-pointers and scoring 22 points to give the Warriors a 12-point lead. Curry, who had only three points before halftime, took over in the second half, sealing the win and performing his signature “night night” gesture as Golden State finished strong.
Kerr praised Hield for more than just his shooting performance, noting his excellent defense. “It wasn’t just about Buddy’s shooting tonight; he played great on both ends,” Kerr remarked.
The Warriors became the seventh No. 7 seed in NBA history to make it to the semifinals, and they eliminated the Rockets for the fifth time in the playoffs, with the last four coming between 2015 and 2019. While Houston has no players from those past teams, Fred VanVleet had noted that “this ain’t that team” before the series.
Despite the Rockets’ new roster, Draymond Green recalled their success in Houston. “It’s still the same organization,” he said. “We enjoy coming to play here—it’s been good to us.”
Hield’s 9-of-11 performance from 3-point range set an NBA record for Game 7 and outpaced the Rockets, who went 6-of-18 from beyond the arc. “Just trying to seize the moment, be in the moment, and enjoy myself,” Hield said after the game. “It was fun tonight.”
Curry added 10 rebounds and seven assists to his scoring efforts. Amen Thompson led the Rockets with 24 points, but despite forcing a Game 7 with two straight victories, Houston couldn’t overcome the experience of Golden State.
Rockets head coach Ime Udoka expressed disappointment: “We had our chances in this series. We all expected to keep playing, so it’s a tough loss. But we’ll use it as motivation to come back stronger.”
Entering the fourth quarter with an eight-point lead, the Warriors quickly extended their advantage with a 5-0 run, highlighted by Curry’s 3-pointer. Houston responded with six unanswered points, but Golden State countered with a 7-2 run, capped by Curry’s assist to Hield for a corner 3-pointer. The Warriors’ 94-74 lead with 2:31 remaining forced many Houston fans to leave early.
Jimmy Butler added 20 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists for the Warriors, who have been 28-11 since his trade from Miami in February. VanVleet, who had been a standout in the previous two games, struggled in Game 7, scoring just 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting.
Houston’s other key players also had off nights. Alperen Sengun, who posted 21 points and 14 rebounds, struggled with his shot, finishing 9-of-23. Jalen Green, who led the Rockets with 38 points in Game 2, scored only eight points in Game 7. “It’s my first playoffs, but that’s no excuse,” Green said. “I have to be better.”
Golden State played without Gary Payton II, who was sidelined with a severe illness. Draymond Green added 16 points, and four Warriors starters scored in double figures, helping Golden State advance.
