Warriors end Rockets' 3-1 comeback attempt with Game 7 win

The Golden State Warriors vanquished the Houston Rockets' hopes of a 3-1 series comeback Sunday with a 103-89 road victory in Game 7.

Buddy Hield led the way with 33 points - 22 in the first half - and nine 3-pointers, tying the record for most triples in a Game 7. Stephen Curry contributed 22 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. Jimmy Butler added 20 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists.

The Warriors led by as many as 20 points in the fourth quarter, including a 12-0 run to seal the game. They held the Rockets to 40.5% shooting from the field and 33.3% from three.

Golden State has now won five playoff series against the Rockets with Curry on the roster. The Warriors have closed out three of those matchups in Houston - 2018, 2019, and 2025.

"I'm blown away by Steph's competitive fight," Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said, according to ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk. "He has four rings, a gold medal. He has nothing to prove, and yet he is going to come in every single night with something to prove. Draymond (Green) and Jimmy too."

Green complimented the Rockets postgame, praising coach Ime Udoka along with center Alperen Sengun, veterans Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams, and forward Jabari Smith Jr.

"I gained a lot of respect for that team throughout this series, one of the tougher series I’ve played in, personally," Green said, per NBA TV. "But that’s a young team to be reckoned with."

Amen Thompson scored 24 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Rockets. Sengun recorded 21 points and 14 rebounds.

The Rockets made the playoffs for the first time since the 2019-20 campaign. They finished the regular season with a 52-30 record, second best in the Western Conference.

The No. 6 Warriors will face the No. 7 Minnesota Timberwolves in the conference semifinals beginning Tuesday. This is the third occasion in NBA history when a six and seven seed have matched up in the postseason, according to NBA reporter Keerthika Uthayakumar.