Top-seeded Warriors advance past No. 2 Rockets in playoff series
Buddy Ball: Unlikely Hero Shines in Warriors' Game 7 Triumph
In a nail-biting Game 7, Houston's lights dimmed as Buddy Hield lit up the court for the golden Warriors, snatching a 103-89 victory against the Rockets on Monday night. This stunning display on May 5 transformed Hield into an unprecedented postseason warrior.
Hield, an unlikely candidate for heroics, stormed the Game 7 battleground with nine thundering three-pointers and a whopping 33 points, catapulting the Warriors to the Western Conference semifinals against the Timberwolves, set for Wednesday.
Stephen Curry, with 14 points in the decisive fourth quarter, closed the deal as Warriors head coach Steve Kerr praised his team's unwavering resilience. "This was an incredibly impressive display of grit," Kerr hailed.
After a scoreless performance in Game 6, Hield ignited a scorching first half, making six long-range bombs and notching 22 high-voltage points. Eager to capitalize on this momentum, the Warriors surged ahead by an imposing 12-point lead.
With Curry needing a wake-up call amid a sluggish first half show, he swiftly took center stage, seizing the reins for a thrilling finish.
"This was not just a lights-out shooting performance for Buddy," Kerr elaborated, praising the defender's two-way prowess. "I thought his defense was simply outstanding."
The victorious Warriors joined an elite group of just seven No. 7 seeds in NBA history to advance to the semifinals, ending the Rockets' playoff run for the fifth time. These hard-fought wins, predominantly achieved against James Harden-led squads between 2015 and 2019, were marked by the departures of every surviving veteran on the present-day Rockets roster. The absence of familiar faces brought Fred VanVleet's forecast before the series to the forefront: "This ain't that team."
As Hield smashed records with his game-changing shooting, he embodied the spirit of the new Warriors era. "Just trying to seize the moment and relish the moment at the same time," Hield simply said, reflecting on his triumphant night.
Curry wrapped up an illustrious night with a double-double of 22 points and ten rebounds, while adding seven daring assists. Jimmy Butler led Houston with an impressive 24-point scoreline, but the Rockets couldn't match the experienced Warriors' unyielding determination.
"We had our chances in this series," Rockets coach Ime Udoka conceded. "We expected to continue playing, so it’s a letdown. It’ll sting now, but we’ll use it as motivation and come back better."
The Warriors entered the decisive fourth quarter holding an 8-point lead and swiftly extended it, beginning with a smooth 5-0 run headed by Curry's signature triple. Although the Rockets gave a valiant effort, they couldn't close the gap, with the Warriors' relentless advantage culminating in a 22-point lead with just 2 minutes 31 seconds remaining. As it became clear that the Rockets were headed for defeat, many disheartened fans began exiting the game.
The Warriors' dominant performance demonstrated the perfect symbiosis of defense and offense, with both Jimmy Butler and Hield earning praise for their defensive contributions. This decisive win will undoubtedly go down in Warriors' history as a classic triumph, signaling that golden days are still ahead for this galvanized team.
In the tumultuous Game 7, Buddy Hield's sensational performance, marked by a staggering 33 points and nine three-pointers, propelled the Golden State Warriors past the Houston Rockets by a margin of 103-89, making Hield an unprecedented postseason warrior on May 5.
Despite a lackluster first half, Stephen Curry rallied in the key moments, finishing the game with a double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds, showcasing the resilience displayed by the Warriors under head coach Steve Kerr.
In a captivating display, Hield initially ignited the Warriors' offense in the first half, sinking six long-range shots and scoring 22 points, catapulting his team to an impressive 12-point lead.
While both Jimmy Butler and Buddy Hield excelled on defense during the match, the more experienced Warriors demonstrated an unyielding determination, ultimately claiming victory and ending the Rockets' playoff run for the fifth time since 2015, with the absence of familiar faces making Fred VanVleet's pre-series prediction resonate: "This ain't that team."
