Buddy Hield Shines, Warriors Knock Out Rockets in Game 7 Showdown
Golden State Advances to Second Round After Clutch Road Win
HOUSTON, TX — In a do-or-die moment on enemy turf, Buddy Hield delivered a dazzling shooting performance, and Stephen Curry found his rhythm when it mattered most as the Golden State Warriors powered past the Houston Rockets 103–89 on Sunday night in Game 7 of their first-round Western Conference series.
With the win, the seventh-seeded Warriors avoided squandering a 3–1 series lead and punched their ticket to the second round, where they’ll face the Minnesota Timberwolves beginning Tuesday in Minneapolis. It also marked the franchise’s fifth playoff series victory over Houston since 2015, extending a postseason rivalry that has leaned heavily in Golden State’s favor.
Hield’s Hot Hand Sets the Tone
It was Hield who set the early tone, dropping 22 of his 33 points in the first half with near-flawless shooting. The Warriors rode his momentum through the first two quarters, with his deep 42-foot three-pointer at the first-quarter buzzer serving as an exclamation point. He finished the night an incredible 12-of-15 from the field, including 9-of-11 from beyond the arc.
“Being in the zone is very spiritual,” Hield said after the game. “It’s just you and that rim and the net and the ball. Sometimes you just feel it, and everything clicks.”
Hield’s ability to stretch the floor and punish Houston’s defensive lapses gave Golden State the edge they needed early — and the cushion to weather the inevitable Rockets run.
Curry Comes Alive in the Second Half
After a quiet first half that saw him score just three points, Stephen Curry took over in the third and fourth quarters. He poured in 19 of his 22 points after halftime, including a driving layup and a deep three to start the fourth, stretching the Warriors’ lead to double digits and silencing the home crowd.
“I thought Steph was brilliant tonight,” said Warriors head coach Steve Kerr. “He managed the game beautifully, and once his shot started falling, it was just vintage Steph.”
Curry also added 10 rebounds and 7 assists, anchoring the Warriors’ offense and controlling the tempo. Draymond Green chipped in with 16 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks, while Jimmy Butler III contributed 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, delivering one of his most complete performances of the series.
Warriors Defense Delivers When It Counts
While Hield and Curry dazzled on offense, Golden State’s defense may have been the true MVP. The Warriors repeatedly clogged the paint and contested shots at the rim, frustrating the Rockets into difficult looks and poor execution.
Amen Thompson was the lone bright spot for Houston, finishing with 24 points on 9-of-16 shooting and adding 9 rebounds. Alperen Sengun had a double-double with 21 points and 14 boards, but his 9-of-23 shooting underscored the Warriors’ ability to limit efficiency.
The Rockets shot just 40.5% from the floor and went 6-of-18 from three-point range. Despite grabbing 14 offensive rebounds, Houston managed only a 50% conversion rate on second-chance opportunities.
“It felt like we missed a lot of point-blank shots,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “We had our looks but didn’t finish the way we needed to.”
Key Moments and Momentum Shifts
After trading leads early in the first quarter, Golden State began to pull away thanks to a late surge led by — who else — Hield. His buzzer-beater gave the Warriors a 23–19 lead entering the second, and by halftime, they were up 51–39.
Even when the Rockets made runs — like Tari Eason’s corner three that cut the lead to four in the second quarter — Hield quickly extinguished momentum with back-to-back threes. Curry’s late-half triple added punctuation, sending the Warriors into the break with confidence and command.
Up Next: Timberwolves Await
The Warriors now head to Minneapolis to take on the sixth-seeded Timberwolves in what promises to be a physical, fast-paced second-round matchup. Game 1 tips off Tuesday.
After avoiding disaster in Round 1 and seeing their stars step up under pressure, Golden State looks ready to keep their postseason run alive — and if Buddy Hield’s heater continues, they may be even more dangerous than expected.
