HOUSTON — Buddy Hield grew to become an unlikely playoff hero for the Golden State Warriors, main the group early in Sport 7 in opposition to the Houston Rockets earlier than Stephen Curry took over late.
Curry scored 14 of his 22 factors within the fourth quarter, Hield made 9 three-pointers and scored 33 factors, and the Warriors superior to the Western Convention semifinals with a 103-89 win over the Houston Rockets on Sunday evening.
“We have been fortunate to get out of this collection,” Golden State coach Steve Kerr stated. “That was an extremely spectacular show of resolve.”
The Warriors will face the Timberwolves Tuesday evening in Minnesota.
After not scoring in Sport 6, Hield had a scorching first half with six three-pointers and 22 factors to hold the Warriors to a 12-point lead, with Curry scoring simply three factors earlier than the break. Then Curry took over within the closing minutes and carried out his signature “evening evening” gesture because the Warriors put the Rockets away.
“This was not only a lights-out taking pictures efficiency for Buddy,” Kerr stated. “It was a two-way efficiency. I believed his defence was unbelievable.”
The Warriors grew to become the seventh No. 7 seed in NBA historical past to advance to the semifinals and eradicated Houston within the playoffs for a fifth time. They despatched the James Harden-led Rockets packing 4 instances between 2015 and 2019.
Not one of the gamers from these groups stay with Houston, main Fred VanVleet to say earlier than the collection that “this ain’t that group.”
Draymond Inexperienced, who helped beat the Rockets in Sport 7 in 2018 to advance to the NBA Finals, talked about VanVleet’s quote earlier than persevering with.
“It’s that group, although,” he stated. “We like coming to the town, taking part in in these conditions. It has been good to us.”
Hield was 9 of 11 from three-point vary, setting an NBA document for a Sport 7 and making extra threes than the Rockets, who have been 6 of 18 from lengthy vary.
“Simply making an attempt to grab the second and relish the second and simply be within the second on the identical time,” Hield stated. “Simply making an attempt to be myself. However tonight was enjoyable.”
Curry added 10 rebounds and 7 assists.
Amen Thompson scored 24 factors to guide Houston, which compelled Sport 7 with two straight wins however could not put away the skilled Warriors.
“We had our possibilities on this collection,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka stated. “All of us anticipated to proceed to be taking part in, so it’s a letdown. It’s going to sting now, however use it as motivation and let’s all come again higher.”
Golden State led by eight coming into the fourth and opened the quarter with a 5-0 run, capped by a 3 from Curry, to make it 75-62.
Houston scored the following six factors, however the Warriors used a 7-2 spurt with 4 factors from Curry to make it 82-70 with about seven minutes left.
Curry made a contested three, rebounded a missed jumper by Thompson and located Hield for an open nook three that made it 94-74 with 2:31 remaining.
That despatched lots of the red-clad Rockets followers streaming for the exits.
Jimmy Butler added 20 factors, eight rebounds and 7 assists for the Warriors, who improved to 28-11 since his debut on Feb. 8 after a commerce from Miami.
VanVleet scored a mixed 55 factors within the final two video games to assist Houston lengthen the collection. However he was restricted to 17 factors on 6-of-13 taking pictures Sunday to ship the second-seeded Rockets residence early of their first journey to the playoffs since 2020.
He was removed from the one Rocket who struggled. Large man Alperen Sengun had 21 factors and 14 rebounds. However he missed a number of straightforward photographs on a 9-of-23 evening.
Jalen Inexperienced, who had 38 factors to guide Houston to a Sport 2 win, completed with eight factors.
“First playoffs is not any excuse,” he stated. “I’ve received to be higher.”
The Warriors performed with out key reserve Gary Payton II, who sat out with an sickness that coach Steve Kerr stated had him “sick as a canine.”
Draymond Inexperienced added 16 factors for the Warriors, who had 4 starters rating in double figures.
