Stephen Curry and Buddy Hield lead
Warriors past Rockets 103-89 in Game 7
[May 05, 2025]
By KRISTIE RIEKEN
HOUSTON (AP) — Buddy Hield became an unlikely playoff hero for the
Golden State Warriors, leading the team early in Game 7 against the
Houston Rockets before Stephen Curry took over late.
Curry scored 14 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, Hield made
nine 3-pointers and scored 33 points, and the Warriors advanced to
the Western Conference semifinals with a 103-89 win over the Houston
Rockets on Sunday night.
“We were lucky to get out of this series,” Golden State coach Steve
Kerr said. "That was an incredibly impressive display of resolve.”
The Warriors will face the Timberwolves Tuesday night in Minnesota.
After not scoring in Game 6, Hield had a scorching first half with
six 3-pointers and 22 points to carry the Warriors to a 12-point
lead, with Curry scoring just three points before the break. Then
Curry took over in the closing minutes and performed his signature
“night night” gesture as the Warriors put the Rockets away.
“This was not just a lights-out shooting performance for Buddy,”
Kerr said. “It was a two-way performance. I thought his defense was
fantastic.”
The Warriors became the seventh No. 7 seed in NBA history to advance
to the semifinals and eliminated Houston in the playoffs for a fifth
time. They sent the James Harden-led Rockets packing four times
between 2015 and 2019.
None of the players from those teams remain with Houston, leading
Fred VanVleet to say before the series that “this ain't that team.”
Draymond Green, who helped beat the Rockets in Game 7 in 2018 to
advance to the NBA Finals, mentioned VanVleet's quote before
continuing.
“It’s that organization though,” he said. “We like coming to the
city playing in these situations. It's been good to us.”
Hield was 9 of 11 from 3-point range, setting an NBA record for a
Game 7 and making more 3s than the Rockets, who were 6 of 18 from
long range.
“Just trying to seize the moment and relish the moment and just be
in the moment at the same time,” Hield said. “Just trying to be
myself. But tonight was fun.”
Curry added 10 rebounds and seven assists.
Amen Thompson scored 24 points to lead Houston, which forced Game 7
with two straight wins but couldn't put away the experienced
Warriors.
“We had our chances in this series,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said.
“We all expected to continue to be playing, so it’s a letdown. It’s
going to sting now, but use it as motivation and let’s all come back
better.”
[to top of second column] |
Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry (30) goes up for a shot as
Houston Rockets' Jabari Smith Jr. rear, defends during the second
half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series
Sunday, May 4, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Golden State led by eight entering the fourth and
opened the quarter with a 5-0 run, capped by a 3 from Curry, to make
it 75-62.
Houston scored the next six points, but the Warriors used a 7-2
spurt with four points from Curry to make it 82-70 with about seven
minutes left.
Curry made a contested 3, rebounded a missed jumper by Thompson and
found Hield for an open corner 3 that made it 94-74 with 2:31
remaining.
That sent many of the red-clad Rockets fans streaming for the exits.
Jimmy Butler added 20 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for
the Warriors, who improved to 28-11 since his debut on Feb. 8 after
a trade from Miami.
VanVleet scored a combined 55 points in the last two games to help
Houston extend the series. But he was limited to 17 points on
6-of-13 shooting Sunday to send the second-seeded Rockets home early
in their first trip to the playoffs since 2020.
He was far from the only Rocket who struggled. Big man Alperen
Sengun had 21 points and 14 rebounds. But he missed several easy
shots on a 9-of-23 night.
Jalen Green, who had 38 points to lead Houston to a Game 2 win,
finished with eight points.
“First playoffs is no excuse,” he said. “I’ve got to be better.”
The Warriors played without key reserve Gary Payton II, who sat out
with an illness that coach Steve Kerr said had him “sick as a dog.”
Draymond Green added 16 points for the Warriors, who had four
starters score in double figures.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
