What started as a comfortable 3-1 series lead quickly turned into a full-blown crisis for the Golden State Warriors. After getting blown out in Houston in Game 5 and falling apart in the fourth quarter of Game 6, the Warriors were suddenly staring down a Game 7. Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler had combined for 56 points in the last outing, but even that wasn’t enough to stop the slide.
Meanwhile, Houston Rockets’ Fred VanVleet was on fire — dropping a combined 55 points over Games 5 and 6, averaging 19.0 points, 4.7 assists, and 3.7 rebounds through the series. With the series tied 3-3 and a spot in the Western Conference semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves on the line, everything came down to one final battle of Game 7 on Sunday, April 4.
And when the dust settled, the box score told the story—who showed up, who fell short, and how Game 7 tilted the scales once and for all. Let’s dig into the details.
Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets Box Score
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warriors | 23 | 28 | 19 | 33 | 103 |
| Rockets | 19 | 20 | 23 | 27 | 89 |
Warriors’ Player Stats
| Player (Online Name) | MIN | PTS | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B. Hield | 36 | 33 | 3 | 3 |
| S. Curry | 45 | 22 | 10 | 7 |
| J. Butler | 44 | 20 | 8 | 7 |
| D. Green | 39 | 16 | 6 | 5 |
| B. Podziemski | 39 | 9 | 3 | 2 |
| K. Looney | 11 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| J. Kuminga | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| G. Santos | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| T. Jackson-Davis | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| P. Spencer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Q. Post | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| M. Moody | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Rockets’ Player Stats
| Player (Online Name) | MIN | PTS | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. Thompson | 37 | 24 | 9 | 3 |
| A. Sengun | 39 | 21 | 14 | 5 |
| F. VanVleet | 43 | 17 | 7 | 3 |
| D. Brooks | 35 | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| J. Green | 29 | 8 | 4 | 1 |
| T. Eason | 15 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| S. Adams | 25 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
| J. Smith | 12 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
Warriors vs. Rockets: Game 7 Recap
Golden State took a 23-19 lead in the first quarter, thanks to some late-quarter magic from Buddy Hield. The sharpshooter buried back-to-back threes — including a deep 40-footer at the buzzer, that gave the Warriors just the spark they needed to close strong.
The quarter was a bit of a grind on both ends. Houston struggled to find rhythm offensively, missing free throws and mid-range looks, including a key miss by Alperen Şengün and a blown trip to the line by Jalen Green. The Warriors didn’t shoot lights out either, but they made timely plays and held their ground on the glass.
The Warriors took complete control in the second quarter, outscoring the Rockets 28-20 to lead 51-39 at halftime. Hield was on fire, dropping 22 points in the first half, including a couple of deep three-pointers that helped Golden State pull away. Houston, led by Amen Thompson and VanVleet, fought back but couldn’t close the gap.
Game 7 is living up to the hype, and the third quarter only added to the drama. The Rockets edged the Warriors 23-19 in the frame, tightening the gap and setting up a nail-biting finish. Butler’s clutch 3-pointer at 1:46 and Draymond Green’s inside finish gave the Warriors a brief momentum, but Houston hung tough with gritty defense and timely stops.
Dubs closed out Game 7 with a commanding 103-89 win, but it didn’t come easy. The Rockets came at them hard in the fourth quarter, pushing the pace and cutting into the lead. Curry, uncharacteristically, went cold late — but the Warriors didn’t flinch.
The Warriors’ forward, Hield, stepped up big time. With 33 points, including a crucial steal and block in the final minutes, Hield played the best playoff game of his career. He was everywhere—making 3s, hounding ball-handlers, and keeping the Warriors afloat when Curry hit a scoring drought.
Thompson tried to will the Rockets back, but it wasn’t enough. The Rockets shifted away from their Steven Adams-Sengun lineup in the fourth, likely searching for more speed and scoring punch. With Curry attacking Adams in pick-and-rolls earlier, Houston looked to adjust by going smaller and switching more. But the move didn’t pay off.
Draymond Green, quiet offensively all series, finally turned it up when it mattered most. He dropped 16 points and helped anchor a defense that kept the Rockets at bay, especially when it mattered late.
Now, the Warriors head to Round 2, battle-tested and still standing.
