The Golden State Warriors are through to the Western Conference semi-finals after defeating the Houston Rockets in a high-stakes Game 7, bouncing back from a blown 3-1 series lead.
Playing on the road in Houston, Steph Curry delivered when it mattered most, scoring 14 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, while Buddy Hield exploded with 33 points, including nine three-pointers, to push the Warriors to a thrilling victory.
“A lot of resilience and everybody stepping up,” said Curry after the win. “Everybody’s been talking about our team the last two games… We blocked it all out and just understood we had 48 minutes to dig deep.”
Joining the charge was Jimmy Butler, who arrived from Miami in a midseason trade. He contributed 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, as Golden State overcame their underdog status to advance.
“To build chemistry and trust on the fly and then perform like we did in a Game 7 — it means the world,” added Curry. “Mission accomplished — step one.”
The Rockets, who finished second in the Western Conference standings, failed to become just the 14th team in NBA history to come back from a 3-1 series deficit. The Warriors, who entered the playoffs as the seventh seed, now move on to face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the next round.
Meanwhile, in the Eastern Conference, the Indiana Pacers pulled off a surprise win in Game 1 of their semi-final series, beating the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers 121-112 on the road.
Andrew Nembhard led Indiana with 23 points, while Tyrese Haliburton added 22, helping the Pacers hand Cleveland their first loss of the postseason following a 4-0 sweep of the Miami Heat.
“We’re definitely the heavy underdog,” Haliburton said. “But this gives us momentum for sure. They’re the best team in the East — they don’t lose much.”
Both series promise high drama as the NBA Playoffs heat up.
