Two straight nights, two Game 7s, and neither came close to living up to the usual chaos. Instead of buzzer-beaters or fourth-quarter drama, we got blowouts. Lopsided wins. Teams with their bags packed by halftime. And on Sunday, the Warriors weren't the ones packing — they shut the door on Houston’s season with a 103–89 win that felt even more lopsided than the score.

Golden State nearly let this series slip away, letting the Rockets claw back from a 3–1 hole and force the do-or-die finale. But when it counted, they leaned on everything that’s made them the Warriors over the last decade — confident shot-making, smart adjustments, and a whole lot of Draymond-fueled chaos.

Buddy Hield was the accelerant. The veteran gunner erupted for 22 in the first half — six triples, one 42‑foot prayer, and the kind of heater that makes you double‑check the box score just to be sure you read it right.

Hield finished with 33 on 12‑of‑15 shooting (9‑of‑11 from deep) and, in the process, tied the NBA Game 7 record for made threes. Curry, quiet for two and a half quarters, picked the perfect pocket of the fourth to remind everyone whose era this still is — a solo 5‑0 burst, a dagger triple, and the now‑standard “Night Night” celebration after an assist on Heild's eighth three.

Jimmy Butler (20 points, 8 boards) played grown‑man basketball in the mid‑post and Draymond Green chipped in 16 and his usual symphony of deflections and loud-mouth antics. On the other side, Houston shot 41 percent in the paint and looked every bit the anxious, young contender many thought they were.

A Series Written in Spurts

Let’s rewind. It took seven because the Rockets are talented, fearless, and young enough not to realize how heavy the moment should feel. After trailing 3‑1, Ime Udoka’s crew rattled off two straight behind Fred VanVleet's flamethrower nights (10‑for-15 from three across Games 5 and 6) and a two‑headed center rotation — Alperen Sengun’s finesse plus Steven Adams’ concrete elbows — that bullied Golden State on the glass.

Game 5 was Houston’s chest‑puffing statement: 69 percent shooting in the first half, offense humming, 131‑116 final, Warriors starters iced by the third quarter. Game 6 flipped Oracle into a library late — VanVleet’s 29 and a fourth‑quarter avalanche sent us back to Texas with all the pressure sitting squarely on Curry’s shoulders.

The playoffs aren’t about highlight reels or who’s hottest on social media — they’re about who can grind out the tough stuff when everything’s on the line. And in the end, Golden State’s playoff experience beat out Houston’s youth and energy. The Warriors threw a bit of 1‑3‑1 matchup zone at the Rockets in Game 7, baited them into early‑clock threes, and gang‑rebounded like their vacation plans depended on it.

Houston trimmed the lead to three late in the third, but a 7‑2 Warriors spurt pushed the cushion to eight heading to the fourth, and that was all the oxygen Curry needed to light the match.

Numbers, with Context Please

• 47.8 percent — That’s how well the Warriors shot from deep in the first half. And to put that in perspective, the Rockets shot 41.8% in the paint during that same stretch. When one team is hitting threes more efficiently than the other can score right at the rim, it’s not just an off shooting night — it’s a warning sign.

• 9 — That’s how many threes Buddy Hield hit on the night. That ties the Game 7 record.

• 20 of 25 — That’s Golden State’s record against Houston in their last 25 matchups. Maybe it’s a coincidence. Maybe it’s mental. Either way, it’s the kind of lopsided history that gets into a team’s head — especially when the same storyline plays out again in the playoffs.

• 24 & 9 — That was Amen Thompson’s final line, and for a 21-year-old in his first postseason, it’s beyond impressive. The most impressive part is that he did it all while chasing around Steph Curry, one of the toughest defensive assignments in basketball. Most guys Thompson’s age are still trying to figure out help rotations. He spent the series shadowing a generational shooter and still found the legs to make a real impact on offense.

Stats are cool and all, but the real story of this series was how much experience still matters. Through six games, you could’ve made a real case that these teams were equals — evenly matched in talent, execution, and effort. But Game 7 is where the real gap showed. The Warriors didn’t just outplay Houston; they out-thought them. They knew when to slow things down, when to throw a curveball, and how to weather each punch without flinching.

That’s not luck — that’s years of being in these exact spots and knowing how to survive them. In a league constantly obsessed with youth and upside, this was a reminder that reps still matter. A lot.

Buddy’s Night, Steph’s Quarter, Draymond’s Fingerprints

Hield deservedly owns the headline, but let’s not ignore Curry’s resilience. The two‑time MVP missed six of his first seven shots, couldn’t buy a whistle, and looked completely mortal. Then the fourth quarter happened. Steph’s 5‑0 solo spurt pushed the lead back to double digits; his side‑step triple over VanVleet with 3:12 left was the emotional axe to Houston’s hopes.

Draymond was everywhere, as usual — tagging rollers, barking out coverages, sneaking back‑door for layups when the Rockets’ rookie wings ball‑watched. Green’s line (16‑6‑5) won’t blow you away, but his tone‑setting did. Midway through the second quarter, he dove for a 50‑50 ball, popped up first, and screamed “OURS!” loud enough for the nosebleeds to hear it. The next four possessions, the Warriors went on a 9‑0 run.

Jimmy Butler was the missing piece this team needed to be whole — the guy who knew exactly when to slow things down, settle everyone in, and take the air out of Houston’s momentum. When the game started to tilt sideways, Butler didn’t panic. He’d get into the post, draw contact, force a switch, or simply get two feet in the paint and make the Rockets deal with it.

It wasn’t flashy, but it was exactly what this Warriors team needed — especially against a team like Houston that kept tossing out different looks. When the Rockets tried to throw zone defenses into the mix to muck things up, Butler was the one who broke it apart. He found the soft spots, penetrated, made smart passes, backed guys down, and forced them to abandon it. It’s one thing to recognize a zone, it’s another to calmly pick it apart while the crowd’s going nuts.

Rockets Take Their Lumps, But the Lessons Matter

Houston didn’t lose because the moment was too big; they lost because their shots stopped falling and Golden State made them think. Jalen Green’s eight‑point no‑show stings, but he’s 23 and still learning when to be a fire hydrant and when to be a blowtorch. VanVleet (17‑6‑7) spent the night fighting through traps. Sengun’s 21‑14 felt louder than it was because they just couldn't consistently convert on the other end.

Udoka tried the coach’s challenge midway through the third — lost it, lost the timeout, and lost the momentum when Curry banged the tech free throw. Little things pile up. Playoff basketball is a Jenga tower; pull the wrong block and the whole thing tumbles.

Next Stop: Timberwolves Territory

So about that reward for winning a seven‑game street fight: a flight to Minneapolis on one day’s rest to face a Wolves squad that's been resting after gentleman‑sweeping the Lakers.

Minnesota, the surprise six‑seed turned powerhouse, owns home court by virtue of seeding chaos. Anthony Edwards is playing like he wants the West’s keys before Luka or Shai can grab them, and Rudy Gobert is busy vacuum‑sealing the paint again (he had a 20‑20 game in Game 4 to close it out). Julius Randle and Naz Reid just add to the long list of big bodies the Warriors will have to deal with. Minnesota’s frontcourt is deep, physical, and relentless — they’re going to make Golden State work for every rebound, every post touch, and every drive to the rim.

Things Already Heating Up

• Steph vs. Ant Man – One’s an ascending superstar, the other’s the league’s boogeyman every April. Expect ESPN to plaster their shot charts on every available inch of screen.

• Draymond & Rudy, Part Two – When these two share a court, there's a chance Green tries out another sleeper hold on the big fella. Security might want to keep their eyes as much on the court as they do the crowd in this one.

• Jimmy’s Minnesota Reunion – That wild practice where Butler lit up the starters with the third string? Yeah, folks in Minnesota still talk about it. The fans haven’t forgotten, and let’s be real — neither has Jimmy.

Timberwolves’ Game Plan

1. Use the Rest Edge – Finch will push pace early, force Golden State’s 30‑something-year-olds to sprint through screens on tired legs.

2. Crowd Curry – Houston’s trap‑heavy scheme was a real blueprint. Minnesota will rotate long arms (Edwards, Jaden McDaniels) and dare Hield to go nuclear again.

3. Pound the Glass – If Gobert, Randle, and Reid can live on second‑chance points, Kerr may be forced into more Looney minutes, shrinking the offense.

4. Stay Cool – Draymond’s theatrics are only effective if you let them affect your game on the court.

Warriors’ Counterpunch

Curry put it plain and simple after the Game 7 win:

I just know they're gonna bring the best out of us. It's going to be a challenge, starting on the road again. Thankfully, we got life, that's all we wanted.

That’s a guy who knows exactly what kind of fight is coming and isn’t shying away from it. The Warriors might be tired, and they sure didn’t get a cushy path, but they’ve got another shot — and that’s all they’ve ever needed.

That mindset will define how they attack this Timberwolves series. Expect Kerr to keep leaning into small-ball spacing, trust Butler to take some pressure off Steph by checking Edwards, and hope someone gets hot enough to keep Gobert from camping out in the paint. It won’t be easy — but this team’s never really cared about easy.

Experience Doesn’t Flinch — And That’s Why They’re Moving On

Sunday’s win wasn’t just about avoiding another blown 3–1 lead — it was about showing that playoff experience still carries real weight. Golden State didn’t play a perfect series, but when things got tight, they leaned on what they’ve built over the years.

Now comes the next test — and it’s a big one. The Timberwolves are younger, deeper, and fresher. They’ve had time to rest while the Warriors were gutting out a war. Game 1’s going to hit hard, and fast.

But the Warriors aren’t new to this. They’ve been doubted before. They’ve limped into the second round before. And somehow, they find a way to hang around longer than anyone thinks they will.

It doesn’t have to be pretty — and let’s be honest, it probably won’t be. But it’s May, the Warriors are still standing, and that alone says a lot.

Stats courtesy of NBA.com.