The Golden State Warriors leaned on their championship pedigree once again, riding Buddy Hield’s historic shooting and Stephen Curry’s late-game brilliance to a 103-89 Game 7 victory over the Houston Rockets and a spot in the Western Conference semifinals. Hield was sensational from the jump, drilling nine 3-pointers, an NBA record for a Game 7, and pouring in 33 points to give Golden State an early cushion.
While Curry struggled with just three points in the first half, he erupted for 14 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, adding 10 rebounds and seven assists in a classic closing performance that included his trademark “night night” gesture as the Warriors put the game out of reach.
Jimmy Butler contributed 20 points, eight boards, and seven dimes, while Draymond Green chipped in 16 points as part of a balanced effort that saw four Golden State starters reach double figures.
After entering the fourth quarter up eight, the Warriors wasted no time stretching the lead. Curry’s quick 5-0 burst pushed the margin to 13, and though Houston made a brief run, Golden State responded with a 7-2 spurt, with Curry once again at the heart of the action.
His contested three-pointer, followed by an offensive rebound and a perfect pass to Hield for a dagger corner triple, gave the Warriors a commanding 20-point lead with just over two minutes remaining, sending Rockets fans heading for the exits.
Even without key reserve Gary Payton II, sidelined by illness, Golden State’s defense clamped down when it mattered most, limiting Houston to just six made threes and holding their stars in check.
The win marked the Warriors’ fifth playoff series victory over Houston in the last decade and made them only the seventh No. 7 seed in NBA history to reach the semifinals. Golden State now turns its focus to a daunting matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves, with Game 1 set for Tuesday night in Minneapolis.
But after improving to 28-11 since Butler’s arrival in February and surviving a gritty seven-game battle, the Warriors look every bit like a battle-tested threat in the West, once again fueled by Curry’s clutch heroics and timely contributions from their revamped supporting cast.
Buddy Hield: A+
Stats: 33 PTS, 3 REB (1 OREB, 2 DREB), 3 AST, 1 STL, 2 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 12-15 FG, 9-11 3PT, 0-0 FT, +17, 37 MIN
Hield delivered the game of his life when it mattered most, erupting for 33 points on a blistering 12-of-15 shooting, including a record-setting nine three-pointers in a Game 7. His hot hand gave Golden State early breathing room, and he stayed ready to knock down dagger shots late, including the corner triple off Curry’s assist that sealed the win. Hield’s confidence and shot-making gave the Warriors a dynamic perimeter threat Houston simply couldn’t contain.
Jimmy Butler III: A
Stats: 20 PTS, 8 REB (0 OREB, 8 DREB), 7 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 7-13 FG, 2-3 3PT, 4-5 FT, +10, 45 MIN
Butler once again showed his playoff mettle with an all-around line of 20 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, doing a little bit of everything to stabilize the Warriors. He hit timely shots, moved the ball with purpose, and defended multiple positions, proving invaluable during stretches when Curry and others struggled to score. His veteran poise and efficient 7-of-13 shooting helped Golden State maintain control even as Houston tried to rally.
Stephen Curry: A
Stats: 22 PTS, 10 REB (0 OREB, 10 DREB), 7 AST, 2 STL, 2 BLK, 2 TO, 3 PF, 8-16 FG, 4-10 3PT, 2-2 FT, +16, 46 MIN
Curry looked mortal in the first half with just three points, but in classic fashion, he flipped the switch in the fourth quarter, pouring in 14 points and making every big play down the stretch. He finished with a double-double (22 points, 10 rebounds) and added seven assists, two steals, and two blocks, impacting the game on both ends. His “night night” celebration after a dagger three punctuated another signature closing performance that buried the Rockets.
Draymond Green: A
Stats: 16 PTS, 6 REB (0 OREB, 6 DREB), 5 AST, 1 STL, 2 BLK, 1 TO, 4 PF, 7-15 FG, 2-8 3PT, 0-0 FT, +18, 40 MIN
Green brought championship-level intensity, contributing 16 points, six rebounds, five assists, and strong defense that anchored Golden State’s effort. He was aggressive looking for his own shot, hitting seven field goals, and his two blocks and physical presence helped limit Houston’s interior scoring. While his 2-of-8 mark from deep wasn’t pretty, Green’s leadership and energy were essential in keeping the Warriors steady throughout.
Brandin Podziemski: C
Stats: 9 PTS, 3 REB (0 OREB, 3 DREB), 2 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 2 PF, 4-12 FG, 1-7 3PT, 0-0 FT, +5, 40 MIN
Podziemski had an up-and-down night, scoring nine points but struggling from deep with a 1-of-7 mark from beyond the arc. His effort was solid on defense, and he chipped in two assists and a block while playing heavy minutes due to Payton II’s absence. But his inefficiency shooting the ball kept him from being a bigger factor offensively despite the open looks he got.
Kevon Looney: C
Stats: 3 PTS, 4 REB (1 OREB, 3 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 1-2 FG, 0-0 3PT, 1-2 FT, 0, 11 MIN
Looney played just 11 minutes but provided his usual toughness, grabbing four rebounds and making his lone field goal attempt. While his impact was modest, he gave the Warriors solid minutes when called upon and helped the team hold steady during brief stretches without their starters. His limited role was a product of Golden State sticking mostly with smaller, quicker lineups to counter Houston’s attack.
Moses Moody: D
Stats: 0 PTS, 3 REB (0 OREB, 3 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 0-5 FG, 0-3 3PT, 0-0 FT, +6, 11 MIN
Moody had a rough outing, going scoreless on 0-of-5 shooting and missing all three of his attempts from long range. He grabbed three rebounds and posted a +6 in 11 minutes, but his inability to knock down shots hurt the Warriors during his stints. His defensive effort was passable, but overall, Moody couldn’t provide the spark off the bench that Golden State hoped for in this winner-take-all game.
Jonathan Kuminga: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 1 REB (1 OREB, 0 DREB), 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 0 PF, 0-4 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, -4, 7 MIN
Kuminga saw only seven minutes and failed to score, missing all four of his shot attempts while grabbing just one offensive rebound. He added a steal but also committed a turnover, and Steve Kerr quickly shortened the rotation, leaving him on the bench for the bulk of the game. His struggles finishing around the rim and lack of rhythm made it a forgettable night for the young forward.
Quinten Post: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +2, 3 MIN
Post played only three minutes in mop-up duty and didn’t record any stats beyond a +2 in the box score. He was essentially a placeholder late in the game as Golden State rested its starters after building a decisive lead. While he didn’t have an opportunity to impact Game 7, his presence in the rotation earlier in the series showed the staff’s trust in his development.
