San Francisco – Fred VanVleet had 29 points, eight assists and eight rebounds, Alperen Sengun contributed 21 points and 14 rebounds, and the Houston Rockets kept their season alive by beating the Golden State Warriors 115-107 on Friday night and forcing a deciding Game 7 in their first-round playoff series.
Golden State went cold when it mattered most: The Warriors missed 13 straight shots between Draymond Green’s basket with 10:12 left and a 3-pointer by Stephen Curry at the 3:35 mark.
Now, everybody will get back on an airplane and head to Houston for Game 7 on Sunday for a chance to meet well-rested Minnesota in the Western Conference semifinals. That’s exactly what the Warriors were hoping to avoid with a chance to clinch at home in Chase Center.
Curry scored 29 points but shot 9 of 23, going 6 for 16 from deep. Jimmy Butler added 27 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
Houston coach Ime Udoka improved to 5-1 when facing elimination.
VanVleet converted a four-point play to start the fourth quarter after the Warriors had pulled within two with Curry’s flurry to end the third. Jalen Green scored the next time down on a putback of his own miss. Then, VanVleet’s 3 from the top with 6:47 remaining put Houston up 101-89.
“We can’t give up a four-point play in a two-point game,” Draymond Green said.
Curry’s driving layup with 39 seconds left in the third made it a four-point game, firing up the home crowd in bright yellow playoff shirts with matching rally towels. He then made two free throws as the Warriors pulled within 86-84.
But the Warriors couldn’t keep it going. With a balanced effort on both ends – including 17 points and hustle plays by big man Steven Adams off the bench – Houston had an answer nearly every time Golden State threatened or made a big play.
The Warriors led 3-1 in the series but fell behind in a hurry in a 131-116 Game 5 loss Wednesday night as Houston’s offense rolled after averaging 98 points through the first four games of the series.
VanVleet was brilliant again. He shot 7 for 13 from the floor after consecutive games going 8 for 13, and he converted all nine of his free throws. And from 3-point range the past three games, he’s 18 for 27.
“He’s comfortable, he’s getting where he wants to get to,” Draymond Green said. “Somehow you’ve got to break that up.”
That’s why Warriors coach Steve Kerr went to defensive specialist Gary Payton II in the starting lineup in place of Brandin Podziemski.
Draymond Green passed Isiah Thomas (987) for 15th place on the NBA playoff assists list and now has 992.
Draymond Green picked up an offensive foul at the 8:53 mark of the first quarter for shoving Jalen Green. The play went to review and the foul was determined to be a flagrant-1. But after two straight games with dustups, both teams stayed poised.
The Warriors dropped to 27-11 since Butler’s debut on Feb. 8 following his trade from Miami.
Bucks’ Lillard has surgery
Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard had surgery Friday to repair the left Achilles tendon he tore Sunday in a playoff loss to the Indiana Pacers.
The Bucks said Dr. Neal ElAttrache performed the surgery in Los Angeles, with consultation from team orthopedic surgeon Dr. Carole Vetter.
Lillard was helped off the court midway through the first quarter of the Bucks’ 129-103 loss in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series with the Pacers. The Bucks announced Monday that the seven-time all-NBA guard had torn his Achilles tendon.
The Bucks played without Lillard in Game 5 on Tuesday and lost 119-118 in overtime at Indiana, enabling the Pacers to clinch the best-of-seven series.
Lillard played three games in that series as he made a remarkably fast return from deep vein thrombosis in his right calf. Deep vein thrombosis is an abnormal clot within a vessel where the congealing of blood blocks the flow through on the way back to the heart.
After missing the Bucks’ last 14 regular-season games, Lillard was taken off blood-thinning medication and cleared to resume full basketball activity. Lillard missed Game 1 of the Pacers series to work his way back and then returned in Game 2.
Lillard, 34, ranked 10th in the NBA in scoring (24.9) and assists (7.1) this season while earning his ninth All-Star Game selection.
Kings hire coach Christie
The Sacramento Kings announced they have hired Doug Christie as their full-time head coach following an interim stint that ended with a loss in the play-in tournament.
The Kings announced the hiring on Thursday in the first major decision made since Scott Perry was hired after the season as general manager. Christie will be formally introduced at a news conference on Friday.
“I’ve known Doug a long time and have been impressed with his leadership, presence, and ability to connect deeply with his players,” Perry said in a statement. “He embodies the core values we believe in – toughness, discipline, professionalism, a defensive mindset, and a selfless, team-oriented approach on offense. Our goal is to support him fully and help set the stage for his long-term success. We’re excited to move forward with Doug as our leader.”
Christie took over the Kings after Mike Brown was fired in late December and posted a 27-24 record in his interim stint. Sacramento made it into the play-in tournament as the ninth seed but lost its home game to Dallas.
General manager Monte McNair and the team “mutually parted ways” immediately following that game and Perry was hired as his replacement.
Perry said he wanted to come to a quick resolution on the coaching decision, and he did that by keeping Christie in the role. The two will now try to get the Kings back to the postseason after losing in the play-in tournament the past two seasons.
Christie had previously played for the Kings and served as both an assistant coach and announcer.
“I am deeply humbled to be named head coach of the Sacramento Kings,” he said. “This organization and city have been home for over 20 years. I want to thank the Kings organization and Scott for their support during this process. For me, this opportunity is all about service to the team, the organization, and the city of Sacramento. My family and I couldn’t be more excited for this new chapter.”
The Kings have made the playoffs just once in the past 19 seasons, losing in the first round to Golden State in 2023 in Brown’s first season as coach.
Sacramento has the fifth-worst record in the NBA since Vivek Ranadive took over as owner in 2013. The team has had five lead executives and nine head coaches – including interims – in that span.
The Kings hope the new team of Perry and Christie brings needed stability to the franchise. The team has a core in place led by Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray and Malik Monk.
The team likely won’t have a first-round draft pick; the Kings have a 3.8% chance of moving into the top four in the lottery. Otherwise the pick will go Atlanta as part of a previous deal made for Kevin Huerter.
Eastern Conference playoff scheduleNew York vs. Detroit
(New York wins 4-2)
▶ Game 1: New York 123-112
▶ Game 2: Detroit 100-94
▶ Game 3: New York 118-116
▶ Game 4: New York 94-93
▶ Game 5: Detrot 106-103
▶ Game 6: New York 116-113
Cleveland vs. Miami
(Cleveland wins 4-0)
▶ Game 1: Cleveland 121-100
▶ Game 2: Cleveland 121-112
▶ Game 3: Cleveland 124-87
▶ Game 4: Cleveland 138-83
Indiana vs. Milwaukeee
(Indiana wins 4-1)
▶ Game 1: Indiana 117-98
▶ Game 2: Indiana 123-115
▶ Game 3: Milwaukee 117-101
▶ Game 4: Indiana 129-103
▶ Game 5: Indiana 110-119 (OT)
Boston vs. Orlando
(Boston wins 4-1)
▶ Game 1: Boston 103-86
▶ Game 2: Boston 109-100
▶ Game 3: Orlando 95-93
▶ Game 4: Boston 107-98
▶ Game 5: Boston 120-89
Western Conference playoff scheduleGolden State vs. Houston
(Series tied 3-3)
▶ Game 1: Golden State 95-85
▶ Game 2: Houston 109-94
▶ Game 3: Golden State 104-93
▶ Game 4: Golden State 109-106
▶ Game 5: Houston 131-116
▶ Game 6: Houston 115-107
▶ Game 7: Sunday, May 4 at Houston, TBA
Denver vs. L.A. Clippers
(Series tied 3-3)
▶ Game 1: Denver 112-110 (OT)
▶ Game 2: L.A. Clippers 105-102
▶ Game 3: L.A. Clippers 117-83
▶ Game 4: Denver 101-99
▶ Game 5: Denver 131-115
▶ Game 6: L.A. Clippers 111-105
▶ Game 7: Saturday, May 3 at Denver, TBA
Oklahoma City vs. Memphis
(Oklahoma City wins 4-0)
▶ Game 1: Oklahoma City 131, Memphis 80
▶ Game 2: Oklahoma City 118-99
▶ Game 3: Oklahoma City 114-108
▶ Game 4: Oklahoma City 117-115
Minnesota vs. L.A. Lakers
(Minnesota wins 4-1)
▶ Game 1: Minnesota 117-95
▶ Game 2: L.A. Lakers 94-85
▶ Game 3: Minnesota 116-104
▶ Game 4: Minnesota 116-113
▶ Game 5: Minnesota 103-96
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