If you had told someone who had watched Games 5 and 6 of the Warriors-Rockets first-round series that in Game 7, on the road, that Golden State would be up by 12 at halftime with Stephen Curry having just three points, you’d have been laughed out of the room.

But that’s exactly what occurred. Curry didn’t score until the final seconds of the first half, yet somehow the Warriors led by 12 against a Rockets team that had recently dominated them.

Key Factors

The Warriors took care of the ball, making only seven turnovers (kudos to Curry for his disciplined play even during a rough shooting night). Their defense excelled, and Steve Kerr’s strategy to deploy a zone surprised the Rockets, who couldn’t adapt quickly.

Most notably, Buddy Hield had an outstanding game, scoring 22 first-half points with six 3-pointers, contributing nearly half of Golden State’s offense in the first two quarters.

Hield continued his impressive performance in the fourth quarter, finishing with 33 points on nine 3-pointers, equaling Donte DiVincenzo’s NBA record for most threes in a Game 7.

Hield’s performance rejuvenated an offense that had struggled in the series. His confidence and ability to shoot under pressure helped the Warriors maintain momentum.

Jimmy Butler scored 20 points but hesitated early. Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga struggled under pressure. Draymond Green contributed crucial plays despite also missing shots.

After Hield’s energizing performance, Curry found momentum with 19 points in the second half. Hield has showcased a fluctuating season but proved his value when it mattered most.

Hield’s mindset shone through; despite a rough series, he was ready for the challenge, demonstrating the mentality of a top shooter.

In retrospect, Kerr noted, “His defense was tremendous tonight… Buddy did a great job on Fred VanVleet and on Jalen Green. This was not just a lights-out shooting performance from Buddy. It was a two-way performance.”