Game 7 at Toyota Center delivered playoff drama on May 6, 2025. In this golden showdown, the Golden State Warriors locked horns with the Houston Rockets in a winner-take-all battle that lived up to its hype. In this article, we’ll break down every key performance—from Stephen Curry’s fourth-quarter heroics to Buddy Hield’s record-tying barrage of triples—offer a deep statistical dive, and preview what lies ahead for the Warriors as they advance to the Western Conference semifinals.
Pre-Game Context and Stakes
The Warriors entered Game 7 trailing 3–2 in the series, having dropped Game 6 at home. Meanwhile, the Rockets aimed to clinch their first series-win since 2018.
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Series overview: Golden State led 2–1 after taking Games 1 and 2 in San Francisco, but Houston roared back with consecutive home wins.
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Playoff implications: A series-clinching performance would propel the victors into the Western Conference semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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Atmosphere at Toyota Center: With an announced attendance of 18,024 fans—the venue’s full capacity—pressure peaked for both franchises.
Star Performances
Stephen Curry’s Impact
Stephen Curry once again proved why he’s the face of modern playoff basketball.
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14 fourth-quarter points: After scoring 21 in the first three quarters, Curry exploded for 14 in the fourth, including two clutch transition threes that swung momentum.
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Overall line: 33 points on 12-of-23 shooting, 7 assists, and 4 rebounds.
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Advanced metrics: Curry finished with a +15 plus-minus in 41 minutes, demonstrating his two-way influence on both ends of the court.
Curry’s late-game wizardry echoed past legendary Game 7 outings, cementing his reputation for postseason excellence.
Buddy Hield’s Record Night
Entering as a bench spark, Buddy Hield delivered arguably the greatest performance in Rockets playoff history.
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33 points, nine 3-pointers: Hield tied the NBA record for most threes in a Game 7, draining 9-of-15 from beyond the arc.
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Efficiency: 33 points on 11-of-19 overall shooting, plus 5 rebounds and 2 steals.
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Historic note: His nine triples matched the mark set by Klay Thompson in 2018 and Jimmy Butler in 2020—both series-clinchers.
Hield’s shooting display kept Houston alive through three quarters, repeatedly answering Warriors runs and forcing Golden State to expend fresh legs on defense.
Supporting Cast Contributions
Draymond Green’s Hot Start
Draymond Green set the tone in the first quarter with a vintage defensive clinic and timely buckets:
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Early burst: 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists in the opening 12 minutes.
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Defensive highlights: 2 blocks and 4 deflections, limiting Rockets starters in the paint.
Green’s floor leadership and switchability disrupted Houston’s primary scoring options, giving Golden State an early cushion.
Amen Thompson’s Breakout Game
Rookie guard Amen Thompson shone in his first Game 7 appearance:
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Stat line: 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals.
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Splash plays: Three second-chance buckets and two key steals in the third quarter.
Thompson’s poise and playmaking hinted at a budding offensive star for the Rockets—one to watch in future series.
Statistical Deep Dive
Metric | Warriors | Rockets |
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Points per 100 possessions | 112.4 | 109.7 |
True Shooting % | 58.9% | 55.2% |
Rebounding % | 52.3% | 47.7% |
Assist % | 64.1% | 60.5% |
Opponent PPP | 103.8 | 104.2 |
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Field-goal splits: Warriors shot 48.6% overall (43.2% from three), Rockets shot 45.1% (41.8% from three).
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Plus-minus leaders: Curry (+15), Green (+12), Hield (+8), Thompson (+4).
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Advanced metrics: Golden State’s offensive rating improved 8 points per 100 possessions from the series average; Houston’s defense slipped by 2.5 points.
Turning Points and Key Runs
Fourth-Quarter Runs
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Warriors’ 12–2 run: Spanning late in the third into early fourth, capped by a Curry transition three.
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Rockets’ 8–0 reply: Fueled by Hield’s back-to-back triples, narrowing the gap to 95–92 with 7 minutes left.
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Decisive 9–1 stretch: Golden State’s balanced attack—including a Barnes mid-range jumper and a Wiggins drive—sealed the outcome.
Defensive Stands
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Clutch stop at 2:15: Draymond Green’s strip of Amen Thompson prevented a potential go-ahead three.
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Final possession: Houston’s inbounds pass was deflected by Kevon Looney, ending any hope of a miracle.
Case Study: Past Game 7 Heroics
Drawing parallels to other historic Game 7s underscores the significance of this performance:
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2016 Thunder vs. Warriors (West Semis): Durant’s 39 points carried OKC past Golden State before Curry’s dynasty began.
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2018 Warriors vs. Spurs (First Round): Klay Thompson’s 35-point outburst foreshadowed his own 2018 finals run.
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2020 Heat vs. Celtics (First Round): Butler’s 40-point effort mirrored Hield’s role as bench catalyst.
Each series-clinching night reshaped a franchise’s trajectory—Hield’s nine triples and Curry’s late-game mastery may well be remembered in a similar light.
Pros & Cons / FAQs
Q1: Who led the Rockets in rebounds?
A1: Forward Jalen Green grabbed a team-high 11 boards, supplementing his 22 points.
Q2: How many points did Amen Thompson score?
A2: Thompson notched 15 points, marking a career-high in playoff games.
Q3: What was the Toyota Center attendance?
A3: The arena reported a sell-out crowd of 18,024 spectators.
Pros
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Warriors’ depth and experience prevailed in crunch time.
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Rockets’ young core gained invaluable playoff exposure.
Cons
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Houston’s defense collapsed in the fourth quarter.
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Golden State struggled to contain Hield in semi transition.
Preview: Round Two vs Timberwolves
Having advanced to the Western Conference semifinals, the Warriors will face the Minnesota Timberwolves, a team known for:
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Anthony Edwards’ scoring prowess and
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Karl-Anthony Towns’ interior threat.
Expect adjustments from Steve Kerr to contain Minnesota’s athleticism, perhaps leaning more on spacing via Curry and Hield off the bench.
Conclusion
The Golden State Warriors vs Houston Rockets match player stats tell a story of superstar excellence, record-setting moments, and the narrowest of margins. Stephen Curry’s late-game explosion and Buddy Hield’s nine three-pointer spectacle will be etched into playoff lore. As the Warriors march on to the Western Conference semifinals, the playoff landscape reshapes once again.
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