Stephen Curry delivered a stellar performance in the closing minutes of Game Seven, scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter to propel the Golden State Warriors to a 103-89 playoff victory over the Houston Rockets. Throughout the game, Curry struggled, accumulating only three points until the final quarter when he led his team, contributing nearly half of their 33 points.
With this performance, Curry has now joined LeBron James as the only players since the 1997-98 season to achieve over 10 points in the fourth quarter of four Game Sevens in NBA history. He finished the match with a total of 22 points, while Buddy Hield had a standout game, scoring 33 points, including nine three-pointers. Thanks to this win, the Warriors advanced to the Western Conference semi-finals. Golden State head coach Steve Kerr expressed relief at their victory, stating, “We were lucky to get out of this series.”
In a game where Hield ignited the first half with an impressive six three-pointers, Curry remained silent on the scoreboard during the early stages, only managing three points before halftime. However, he turned the tide in the fourth quarter, using his trademark “night night” gesture as the Warriors outperformed the Rockets.
The match opened with Golden State holding an eight-point lead entering the fourth quarter, quickly extending it with a five-point run. Despite a brief run from the Rockets, Curry’s critical points helped the Warriors pull ahead decisively. Hield’s extraordinary shooting was highlighted by his record-setting nine out of 11 three-point attempts, outshining Houston’s poor performance behind the arc.
Curry not only contributed offensively but also provided ten rebounds and seven assists, showcasing a well-rounded gameplay. Houston’s Amen Thompson led his team with 24 points, but despite the Rockets forcing a Game Seven with a couple of victories earlier in the series, they were unable to outmatch the experienced Warriors.
Rockets’ coach Ime Udoka noted the disappointment of not progressing, stating, “We had our chances in this series,” and expressed a commitment to return stronger next season. Other notable contributions included Jimmy Butler, who accounted for 20 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists for the Warriors.
While the Warriors did lose key player Gary Payton II to illness, the team’s resilience and example set by Curry and Hield proved instrumental in sending the Rockets home early from the playoffs. This victory marks Golden State as only the seventh No. 7 seed in NBA history to reach the semi-finals, adding another chapter to their rivalry with Houston, which has seen the Warriors eliminate them from the playoffs multiple times in recent years.