A Statement Win in Houston
In the crucible of Game 7 — where legends are born and playoff runs are defined — the Golden State Warriors turned to a new face for salvation. Buddy Hield, a sharpshooter with a flamethrower hand, torched the Houston Rockets en route to a 103-89 victory that sealed the first-round series in favor of the veteran Warriors.
Against a Houston defense that leaned heavily on a zone scheme mimicking a box-and-one, Hield rose to the moment, scoring 33 points and tying an NBA record with nine three-pointers in a Game 7. His breakout performance overshadowed the early struggles of Stephen Curry and served as the offensive lifeline for a team that had to battle through adversity and exhaustion.
Breaking Down Houston’s Defensive Gambit
From the opening tip, the Rockets made their intentions clear — make life miserable for Stephen Curry. Houston’s hybrid zone defense morphed into a box-and-one scheme that shaded toward Curry relentlessly, leaving the former MVP bottled up and largely ineffective for much of the first half.
Curry, who entered the game nursing a sore shooting thumb, was held scoreless until the final minute of the second quarter. The Rockets doubled him seven times in the opening half, daring anyone else in a Warriors jersey to step up.
Golden State, however, had prepared for this. Head coach Steve Kerr orchestrated a disciplined response that played directly into the Rockets’ weakness — overcommitting to star players while leaving shooters open. Curry and Jimmy Butler III combined for eight first-half assists, routinely swinging the ball to Hield, who made Houston pay from deep.
By halftime, the Warriors had a 12-point cushion, and momentum had already begun shifting west.
Hield’s Historic Shooting Night
Buddy Hield was a man possessed. He connected on 6-of-7 three-pointers in the first half and finished the night with 9 made triples — tying Donte DiVincenzo’s Game 7 record from the 2024 Eastern Conference semifinals. Hield shot an efficient 8-of-9 from the field in the opening half, catching fire in a way that fundamentally altered Houston’s defensive priorities.
The Rockets simply had no answer for Hield’s rhythm shooting. His early barrage left Houston trailing by double digits at halftime — a situation that has historically spelled doom for them. With the loss, the Rockets dropped to 0-29 all-time in postseason games when trailing by 12 or more at halftime.
For Hield, this performance was more than a hot night — it was a validation. The shooting guard was acquired to fill the void left by Klay Thompson’s departure, and on the biggest stage of his career thus far, he rose to the occasion in Thompson-esque fashion.
Curry and Butler Close the Deal
While Hield’s fireworks dominated the first half, the closing chapters of the game featured the calming presence of Golden State’s two seasoned stars — Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler III.
Curry’s night was, by his lofty standards, a struggle for most of the game. He missed 7 of his first 8 shots and looked out of rhythm, clearly hampered by his injured thumb. But as the fourth quarter approached, the two-time MVP reminded everyone why he remains the most dangerous closer in the game.
In classic Curry fashion, he came alive late, attacking the rim with renewed vigor and knocking down timely shots. He finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists — a testament to his resilience and adaptability in high-stakes moments.
Butler, meanwhile, served as the emotional anchor for Golden State. When the Rockets cut the lead to just three points in the third quarter, it was Butler who drained a key corner three and found Draymond Green for a pair of critical baskets that restored breathing room. His 20-point performance may not have been as flashy as Hield’s or as dramatic as Curry’s, but it was no less vital.
Together, Curry, Butler, and Hield became the first trio in Warriors history to each score 20 or more points in a Game 7 — a milestone that reflects the collective strength and versatility of this retooled Warriors squad.
Draymond Green: The Unseen Catalyst
As always, the box score doesn’t fully capture Draymond Green’s value to Golden State’s playoff engine. The veteran forward set the tone early with a pair of three-pointers, high-energy defense, and relentless communication that stabilized Golden State during early turbulence.
His defense against Houston’s interior players was pivotal, and his ability to serve as a connective tissue on both ends of the court cannot be overstated. Green’s basketball IQ and leadership were instrumental in helping the Warriors withstand Houston’s third-quarter surge.
Green’s subtle dominance was especially apparent in the way he exploited the soft spots in Houston’s zone, finding space inside for finishes and setting hard screens to free up Hield and Curry beyond the arc.
Houston’s Missed Opportunity
For the Rockets, the Game 7 loss marks another bitter end to a promising season. Despite a valiant effort in the third quarter that brought them within three points, they couldn’t match the Warriors’ execution and shot-making down the stretch.
Houston’s defense — innovative and aggressive early — eventually unraveled under the weight of Golden State’s ball movement and shooting depth. While their strategy succeeded in neutralizing Curry temporarily, it opened up too many windows for other scorers to do damage.
Offensively, the Rockets were simply outgunned. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, Golden State had already made 13 three-pointers — more than Houston had even attempted at that point.
Their inability to close the gap when the game tightened is a glaring concern, especially given the high-level performances required in the postseason. The loss drops Houston’s postseason record to 0-29 when trailing by 12 or more at halftime — a dubious distinction that underscores their struggles in pressure situations.
Looking Ahead: Warriors Face Timberwolves Next
With the Game 7 triumph in the books, the Warriors now shift their focus to the next challenge — a Western Conference semifinal showdown with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Golden State won the season series 3-1 against Minnesota, but the Timberwolves team they’re about to face is vastly improved. Since January 15 — the last time these two teams played — the Wolves have added offensive firepower, with Julius Randle stepping up his production and Anthony Edwards continuing his rise as one of the league’s brightest young stars.
Perhaps more notably, the Warriors didn’t have Jimmy Butler on the roster the last time these teams squared off. His presence changes the equation considerably, both on the offensive end and as a perimeter defender tasked with containing Edwards.
Minnesota will enter the series well-rested, having eliminated the Lakers in five games. Golden State, by contrast, will have minimal recovery time before facing one of the most physical and athletic defenses in the NBA.
The key matchup to watch? Draymond Green vs. Rudy Gobert — a rivalry steeped in physicality and psychological warfare. Their battle in the paint could dictate the tone of the series.
Warriors’ Championship DNA Still Intact
Even as the team evolves, the core values that made the Warriors a dynasty remain intact — elite ball movement, strategic adaptability, and an uncanny ability to find an unlikely hero when the moment demands it.
In this case, that hero was Buddy Hield.
The Warriors may not be the overwhelming juggernaut of yesteryear, but they have rediscovered something perhaps more valuable — belief. Belief that they can win in different ways, with different stars, and that their championship pedigree can still carry them through the trenches of a brutal Western Conference playoff gauntlet.
If Game 7 against the Rockets proved anything, it’s that Golden State still knows how to win when it matters most. And with the Timberwolves looming, they’ll need every ounce of that experience.