Curry and Hield Power Warriors Past Rockets in Game 7 Win/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Buddy Hield’s record-setting night and Stephen Curry’s fourth-quarter surge lifted the Golden State Warriors to a 103-89 Game 7 victory over the Houston Rockets. Hield knocked down nine 3-pointers and scored 33 points, while Curry added 22 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. Golden State advances to face Minnesota in the Western Conference semifinals.
Warriors Beat Rockets in Game 7: Quick Looks
- Buddy Hield Breaks Records: Drained 9-of-11 from deep for 33 points in Game 7.
- Curry’s Clutch Finish: Scored 14 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter.
- Historic Shooting Night: Hield set an NBA Game 7 record for most 3-pointers.
- Warriors Advance: Golden State moves on to face the Timberwolves in the semifinals.
- Strong Defensive Showing: Hield praised for both shooting and defensive impact.
- Draymond’s Throwback Moment: Referenced Houston rivalry, added 16 points.
- Rockets Falter: Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green struggle as Houston bows out.
- Warriors Resilient: 7th-seeded team eliminates 2nd-seeded Rockets in upset.
- No Gary Payton II: Warriors overcame illness-related absence.
- Postseason Pedigree Prevails: Warriors eliminate Rockets from playoffs for 5th time.
Curry and Hield Power Warriors Past Rockets in Game 7 Win
Deep Look
The Golden State Warriors leaned on the lethal combination of a red-hot Buddy Hield and a clutch Stephen Curry to overcome the Houston Rockets 103–89 in a decisive Game 7 on Sunday night, clinching a spot in the Western Conference semifinals.
Buddy Hield, after going scoreless in Game 6, turned in a career-defining performance by knocking down nine 3-pointers en route to 33 points, setting an NBA record for most 3-pointers made in a Game 7. The long-range barrage stunned the Houston crowd at Toyota Center and built the foundation for Golden State’s series-clinching win.
“Just trying to be in the moment and embrace it,” Hield said postgame. “Tonight was fun. I just wanted to help the team any way I could.”
Hield’s electric first half, in which he drained six threes for 22 points, helped the Warriors take control early and build a 12-point lead by halftime. Curry, meanwhile, started slowly with just three first-half points, but came alive in the fourth quarter, pouring in 14 of his 22 points to seal the win.
With the Rockets clawing back early in the final period, Curry answered with a step-back 3-pointer and followed it up with key rebounds and assists — including a kick-out to Hield for a corner triple that pushed the Warriors’ lead to 20 with under three minutes left.
That dagger three prompted a stream of red-clad Rockets fans to head for the exits as Curry performed his now-iconic “night night” celebration, a fitting end to a veteran-led performance in hostile territory.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr praised both stars postgame: “We were lucky to get out of this series. That was an incredibly impressive display of resolve. Buddy was unbelievable — not just offensively but defensively, too.”
Curry finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists, while Jimmy Butler added 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, continuing his impressive run since joining the Warriors in a February trade. Draymond Green contributed 16 points, embracing the rivalry atmosphere and referencing Houston’s playoff history with Golden State.
“It’s that organization,” Green said, responding to Rockets guard Fred VanVleet’s earlier quote dismissing comparisons to previous Houston teams. “We like coming to this city in these situations. It’s been good to us.”
The Warriors, now 28–11 since Butler’s arrival, became just the seventh No. 7 seed in NBA history to reach the conference semifinals. They’ll now face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday.
For Houston, the loss was a painful end to a promising season. Amen Thompson led the Rockets with 24 points, but the rest of the team struggled to match Golden State’s poise and perimeter shooting. VanVleet, who scored 55 points across Games 5 and 6, was held to just 17 on 6-of-13 shooting.
Jalen Green, whose 38-point outburst helped Houston win Game 2, mustered only eight points in the finale. “First playoffs is no excuse,” he said. “I’ve got to be better.”
Alperen Sengun added 21 points and 14 rebounds, but shot just 9-of-23, missing several inside opportunities as the Rockets struggled to close the gap in the second half.
Rockets coach Ime Udoka expressed disappointment. “We had our chances. This one’s going to sting. But we’ll use it as motivation moving forward.”
The Warriors, meanwhile, proved once again that experience, depth, and elite shooting win in the postseason. And on a night when a new playoff hero emerged in Buddy Hield, the Warriors reminded the league that they’re not going anywhere just yet.
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