The Golden State Warriors didn’t make things easy for themselves, but they are advancing to the next round of the playoffs.
1. Hield’s Record-Breaking Performance Fuels Warriors’ Game 7 Triumph
After huge halves from Buddy Hield and Stephen Curry, the Warriors put the Houston Rockets away on Sunday night to close out their opening-round Western Conference series. The Warriors secured a 103-89 victory over the Rockets in Game 7 at the Toyota Center, earning a 4-3 series win that sends them to the conference semifinals for the third time in the past four seasons.
This win also allowed the Warriors to avoid becoming the 14th team in NBA history to blow a 3-1 series lead, a fate they famously suffered in the 2016 NBA Finals against LeBron James and the Cavaliers.
2. Curry’s Clutch Second Half Seals Series Win for Golden State
Following a tight first quarter and a slow offensive start from Curry in the first half, the Warriors pulled ahead to a 12-point lead at halftime. This was largely thanks to Hield, who was nearly unstoppable and matched an NBA record for most made 3-pointers in a Game 7, hitting nine.
Hield scored 22 of his playoff career-high 33 points in the first two quarters, shooting 6-of-7 from beyond the arc. Nearly all of those made 3-pointers came in the second quarter, where he reached his series-high point total before halftime. Hield helped the Warriors go on a 16-2 run in the second quarter. Curry didn’t make his first basket until the final minute of the period, finally sinking a deep 3-pointer.
As Hield’s impressive scoring streak concluded in the third quarter, the Warriors’ offensive momentum also faltered. The Rockets initiated a swift 14-4 run shortly after halftime, narrowing the deficit to single digits, and later transformed the game into a one-possession affair when Jabari Smith Jr. successfully made a 3-pointer towards the end of the period. This was the closest the Rockets came to achieving a comeback.
The Warriors responded by finishing the third quarter with a 7-2 surge, preventing any field goals from the Rockets for the remainder of the period, thereby extending their lead back to eight points. Hield did not contribute any points during the third quarter, managing only a single shot attempt.
Meanwhile, Curry, who had a lackluster first half, finally found his rhythm. He commenced the fourth quarter with a personal 5-0 run, which featured a step-back 3-pointer, within the first 71 seconds of the period, allowing the Warriors to regain a 13-point advantage and prompting an immediate timeout from the Rockets.
Too much space for Steph 😅 pic.twitter.com/5nzmamOt3t
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) May 5, 2025
Hield knocked down another crucial three-pointer in the fourth quarter, restoring Golden State’s double-digit advantage after Houston had briefly closed the gap. The Warriors then delivered a decisive blow with a rapid 12-0 run, punctuated by yet another Hield three, to stretch their lead to 20 points. That surge effectively put the game out of reach, allowing the Warriors to coast to a 14-point victory. Golden State has now won 20 of its last 25 meetings with Houston.
For the Rockets, Amen Thompson led the way with 24 points and nine rebounds. Alperen Şengün contributed 21 points on 23 attempts along with 14 rebounds, and Fred VanVleet added 17 points. These three were the only Houston players to score in double figures.
The Rockets managed to hit just 6-of-18 shots from three-point range, which was three fewer than the total Buddy Hield made on his own for the Warriors.
Hield ended the night shooting an impressive 12-of-15 from the field. Stephen Curry contributed 22 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists, while Jimmy Butler recorded 20 points and eight rebounds. The Warriors dominated from beyond the arc, outscoring Houston by 36 points in that category. Nearly all of Golden State’s points came from their starting lineup, with Kevon Looney being the only bench player to score.
Golden State now advances to face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the next round, with Game 1 set for Tuesday night in Minneapolis. The Timberwolves reached the semifinals after defeating LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in a 4-1 series win.
