Buddy Hield’s 33 points led the Golden State Warriors to a decisive victory over the Houston Rockets, and the Indiana Pacers stunned the Cleveland Cavaliers in their Eastern Conference series opener.
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The Golden State Warriors advanced to the NBA playoffs’ second round, overpowering the Houston Rockets 103-89 in a pivotal Game 7. Despite facing two consecutive defeats, the Warriors demonstrated resilience and secured their spot in the conference semifinals following an unforgettable performance by Buddy Hield, who hit nine of his eleven 3-point attempts for a game-high 33 points.
Stephen Curry of the Warriors contributed significantly to the win by scoring 14 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter. This, combined with Hield’s impressive shooting, frustrated the Rockets, who had hopes of becoming only the 14th team to overcome a 3-1 series deficit.
Curry praised his teammates, noting their collective effort and Hield’s standout performance. The Warriors will now face the Minnesota Timberwolves, who recently eliminated LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in five games.
In the first half, Hield was on fire, making six of his seven 3-point attempts and leading the Warriors to a 51-39 halftime advantage, with Draymond Green contributing ten points. The Rockets, led by Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun, struggled to keep up, trailing by as much as fifteen points before reducing the gap to three.
However, Curry led a fourth-quarter surge, scoring the first five points of the period. Jimmy Butler’s six points during a 12-0 Warriors run increased their lead to twenty points, sealing their victory with minutes left on the clock. Curry credited his team’s chemistry and late-season acquisition from Miami for their playoff success.
Pacers Stun Top-Seeded Cavaliers
In Cleveland, Andrew Nembhard’s five 3-pointers and Tyrese Haliburton’s 22 points and 13 assists helped the Indiana Pacers secure a surprising 121-112 win over the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of their series. The Pacers’ victory came on the home turf of the Cavaliers, showcasing the team’s strength and potential.
After taking a strong lead early in the game, the Pacers battled through a challenging third quarter, during which the Cavaliers narrowed the gap. Despite this, the Pacers maintained their composure and pulled away in the fourth quarter thanks to their defensive efforts and transition plays.
Haliburton, who scored the game-winning points in their previous playoff round against the Milwaukee Bucks, was pivotal once again. Pascal Siakam also played a crucial role with his scoring, and despite Donovan Mitchell’s 33 points for the Cavaliers, Indiana’s balanced offense and solid defense proved to be the difference-makers.
The absence of Cavalier’s point guard Darius Garland, who missed his third game due to a sprained toe, was notably felt. Nonetheless, the Pacers showcased their ability to adapt and overcome adversity, setting the stage for an exciting Eastern Conference
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2025/5/5/hield-warriors-win-game-7-against-rockets-to-advance-in-nba-playoffs?traffic_source=rss
