HOUSTON — With guile, guts and 3-point shooting, the Warriors are moving onto the next round.
Steve Kerr’s pregame message for the Warriors was to “lose yourself” in the game, to lock in on the game plan, and ultimately, to “let it rip.” Golden State, seasoned for this type of pressure-packed situation, understood the assignment and seized the moment in a 103-89 Game 7 victory.
As Steph Curry struggled, journeyman Buddy Hield powered Golden State’s first half offense with 22 points while a tenacious effort on defense bought Curry time to find his flow.
With three minutes left in the fourth quarter, Curry poked a steal away from Rockets star Alperen Sengun before dancing on Jalen Green for a step-back 3-pointer. His patented “night-night” celebration came after digging out a loose ball and finding Hield for a corner 3, sending Rockets fans for the exits.
Curry scored 14 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter and added 10 rebounds and seven assists. Hield finished with a game-high 33 points in the performance of his NBA life. Jimmy Butler logged 20 points and spent a moment screaming in Curry’s face in jubilation as the Warriors put the finishing touches on the victory.