Martinez Tribune The website of the Martinez Tribune.
BY HELEN LAME’
The Houston Rockets posted a near wire to wire 115-107 win over Golden State Friday night, pushing the Warriors to the brink with a Game 7 elimination game in Houston Sunday night.
Houston’s Tari Eason, Dillon Brooks, Cam Whitmore and Jabari Smith celebrate on the sideline during the closing moments of the Rockets 115-107 win over the Warriors Friday night at Chase Center.
Fred VanVleet continued his clutch shooting, scoring a game high tying 29 points for his third straight 25+ point game while Alperen Şengün added 21 points and 14 rebounds while continuing to dominate the paint.
The Warriors appearing gassed, shooting an ice cold 41% for game, and that mark stood below 38% when Golden State coach Steve Kerr finally threw in the towel, removing all five starters facing a 15 point deficit with less than three minutes remaining before Pat Spencer (3-3) and the reserves made five consecutive baskets to close the game.
Steph Curry played a series high 42 minutes, scoring 29 with six three pointers, but his 9-23 shooting was emblematic of the Warriors shooting struggles as they missed numerous makable shots including a trio of airballs.
Steph Curry connects for a basket with a foul during the second quarter of Houston’s 115-107 win over the Warriors Friday night.
Asked about the difference of a Game 7, Curry reflected, “It’s just the nerves and the adrenaline. You understand the stakes. If you don’t play your best game or you don’t figure out a way to win, you’re going home. But it’s also exhilarating because when you do, it brings the best out of you. There’s no better feeling than closing out a series with just the whole Game 7 vibe. There’s one tomorrow, we get to watch it. We got one on Sunday. It’s what this league is about. It’s a great opportunity to show up when it matters most and have an opportunity to move on. You don’t really do anything different, but you have to embrace the nerves and the adrenaline of it.”
Golden State opened the fourth quarter shooting a miserable 1-15 from the field while missing 13 consecutive field goal attempts. The deflating effort saw them outscored 20-5 by Houston in the first eight minutes of the quarter as the Rockets raced out to an unsurmountable 17 point lead.
While Houston controlled the pace for the first three quarters, the Warriors stayed close and were always competitive despite their last lead being 23-21 with two minutes remaining in the first quarter. Golden State tied the game at 46 on a 31 foot three pointer by Curry with two minutes remaining in the half, but the Rockets went on a 7-2 run to take a five point lead into the locker room at halftime.
Fred VanVleet goes up for a shot on the way to a team high 29 points during Houston’s 115-107 win over Golden State Friday night.
With VanVleet continuing to ramp up his playoff production with eight rebounds and eight assists to go along with his hot shooting, the veteran of the Toronto Raptors 2019 NBA Championship run against Golden State was asked about his recent string of clutch performances, “Just being ready. You work all year and train all summer for these moments and I’ve always prided myself on trying to rise to the occasion. I’ve taken a different role for this team over the last two years, and just trying to squeeze as much juice out of this group as possible. I’m ready and willing when the time comes to step up and make big plays.”
Jimmy Butler continued his strong play since a pelvic contusion forced him to miss Game 3, scoring 27 points (12-14 FT’s) with nine rebounds and eight assists, but there was little additional support throughout the lineup. The Rockets effectively took Buddy Hield out of the game, holding him scoreless, and while Moses Moody chipped in 13 off the bench, he finished a game worst +/-16 in his 22 minutes on the court.
Rockets center Steven Adams provides a major obstacle to Jimmy Butler’s drive to the basket during Houston’s Game 6 victory over the Warriors Friday night. Adams played a season high 31 minutes adding five rebounds and three blocks to his season high 17 points.
The Warriors hack attack of Steven Adams proved ineffective, as the Rockets big man went 9-16 from the line on the way to a series high 17 points in 31 minutes off the bench. Amen Thompson added 14 points and seven boards for Houston while Jalen Green had 12, but a game high +/-20 while he was on the court.
In a series separated by only 14 points after six games, a trip to the Western Conference semi-finals and a matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves will be on the line Sunday night at 5:30PM at the Toyota Center in Houston. The wounded Warriors will have a third and final opportunity to vanquish the upstart Rockets. Championship pedigree versus unbridled athleticism. Or, in the words of Kerr, “Both teams throwing haymakers at each other. It’s why people love watching them. Game 7’s are special. They’re fun to be a part of…”
GAME NOTES:
Curry’s six three pointers were his 2025 playoff high and his NBA record 41st playoff game with six or more three’s.
Golden State is 6-5 all-time in Game 7’s, their last loss coming to Cleveland in the 2016 NBA Finals.
