- Golden State advances to face Minnesota in the semifinals after winning the series 4:3
- Buddy Hield erupted for 33 points and tied the Game 7 record with 9 three-pointers
- Steph Curry scored 14 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter to close out the Rockets
Key Takeaways:
The Golden State Warriors avoided elimination and advanced to the Western Conference semifinals after defeating the Houston Rockets 103:89 in Game 7 on the road. Buddy Hield delivered a sensational performance, while Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler had key contributions in the fourth quarter. Golden State moves on to face the Minnesota Timberwolves, who will have home court advantage.
The game started evenly. Golden State took an early 10:4 lead, but Houston quickly tied it at 13:13. Hield and Draymond Green were productive on offense, and Hield ended the first quarter with a deep buzzer-beating three-pointer to give the Warriors a 23:19 lead.
On to the next! pic.twitter.com/5gIuRFbFwA
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) May 5, 2025
In the second quarter, the Warriors extended their lead to double digits, even though Curry had not yet scored. Houston struggled to convert shots, while Hield stayed hot, knocking down three three-pointers in the final three minutes of the half. Curry finally scored, and the visitors held a 51:39 lead at halftime. Golden State shot 11-of-23 from beyond the arc, while Houston was just 2-of-8.
Buddy Hield finished the half with 22 points, shooting 8-of-9 from the field and 6-of-7 from three-point range—his highest output in over two months.
Amen Thompson tried to rally the Rockets in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 60:63. However, Jimmy Butler responded with a crucial three-pointer from the corner, and the Warriors maintained an eight-point lead heading into the fourth.
Curry opened the final quarter with a layup and a quick three-pointer, pushing the lead to 13. He added nine more points in the remaining minutes to total 22, with 14 coming in the fourth. Jimmy Butler also scored six straight points at a critical moment, stretching the lead from 8 to 14. Golden State’s lead grew to as much as 20 at 94:74.
Hield, who had gone quiet for a stretch, came back to hit three more triples, ending the night with 33 points and tying the Game 7 record for most made three-pointers with nine. The Warriors closed the series 4:3 and will now face Minnesota in the next round.