Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green looked reminiscent of his usual self as the Warriors closed out the first-round series against the Houston Rockets with a 103-89 win on the road. While discussing the impact of the series, Green addressed the personal toll it took on him with the media during the postgame press conference. He said:
“We had some heart-to-hearts after the last game. My wife, one of my closest friends, Travis, my barber, who’s one of my closest friends, and coach Izzo, and I just pouted way too much last game. So I spent the last 2 days embarrassed just at what I gave to the game, what I gave to the world.“
“I’ve been dying since the last game ended to get out on the floor and prove who I am,” he added. “One thing about this league is you’re never done proving who you are until you’re done. Completely finished. So I wanted to come out and prove again just who I am. With poise, but with the same fire, the same tenacity.”
Green certainly proved to be a valuable asset when the team needed it the most. In the last two losses, the forward notched single-digit scoring with seven points in Game 5 and eight points in Game 6. The only highlight was that he had seven assists in Game 6. However, he also burdened his team with four turnovers.
In light of this, Green certainly turned things around in Game 7. Although he was given four personal fouls, the forward looked reminiscent of his former self. With only one turnover on the night, he recorded 16 points, five assists, and six rebounds. This proved to be invaluable as it kept the Warriors afloat long enough to see the team’s offense get going.
Green’s performance supported the Warriors’ stars for the game. Although Stephen Curry was playing with an injury, he recorded 22 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. Meanwhile, Jimmy Butler came up with 20 points, eight rebounds, and another seven assists of his own.
The unlikely hero for Golden State was Buddy Hield and his unparalleled three-point shooting on Sunday night. Hield shot 9-11 from beyond the arc and contributed a total of 33 points to lead the team’s scoring effort against Houston.
In a crucial game, the Warriors displayed a tenacity and drive that is characteristic of championship teams. Even without some key rotation players unavailable, the team banded together to secure their place in the next round.
The Warriors’ victory celebration will be short as they are set to face off against a well-rested Timberwolves side next. With Game 1 taking place on Tuesday at 9:30 pm ET, the team will have barely any time to rest.
