Buddy Hield takes fire to eliminate Rockets at Game 7!

As since the start of the series, it is the two defenses that dictate their law at the start of the match. Brandin Podziemski and Draymond Green (16 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists) hit the Warriors from ahead of the Warriors but the impact near the circle of Amen Thompson (24 points, 9 rebounds) and Alperen Sengun (21 points, 9/23 to shots, 14 rebounds) brings the Rockets on tie (17-17). It is ultimately a “buzzer beater” in the middle of the Buddy Hield field which puts the Warriors ahead to close a first quarter-stroke (23-19).

Buddy Hield takes fire

While the defense of the Rockets focuses on Stephen Curry (22 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists), the collective of the Warriors is set up. With a curry that reads the grips with two opponents well, Buddy Hield continues to flare and Kevon Looney scores 4 points in a row which put Golden State at +9 (33-24).

Free Vanvleet (17 points) attempts to find the breach but the defense of area of ​​the dubs is waterproof. With the exception of a award -winning Tari Eason shot, the Rockets remain five minutes without scoring. Draymond Green is omnipresent in the racket to frustrate Houston and three new awarded shots from Buddy Hield finish a 12-2 which air conditions the Toyota Center 48-34)! It takes the whole grinta of Amen Thompson to stop the hemorrhage before half-time (51-39).

At the break, Stephen Curry has only 3 points but the 6/7 to 3-point from Buddy Hield, author of 22 points, and a defense that limits Houston to 35% on shots allow Golden State to control the match.

Amen Thompson wakes up the Rockets

Upon returning from the locker room, the address of the Warriors dissipates and the Rockets return. Fred Vanvleet chips the ball in the hands of Jimmy Butler (20 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists) and Amen Thompson continues his festival to bring Houston back under the ten delay units (56-49). Brandin Podziemski and Stephen Curry take their responsibilities to stabilize the Warriors but Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green (8 points) break the nail (61-57)!

A 3-point of Jabari Smith JR, after yet another offensive rebound in the Rockets brings them back to a possession. In the hard, Golden State suffers but does not crack. Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler use Stephen Curry as a lure to restore air to their team before the last quarter (70-62).

Stephen Curry keeps the best for the end

After letting the storm pass, the Warriors go forward. While Alperen Sengun continues two forced shots against Draymond Green and Kevon Looney, Stephen Curry scores him five points to put Houston back on departure (75-62)!

Back to the wall, Fred Vanvleet is struggling to bring his team back but Stephen Curry and Buddy Hield keep the Rockets remotely with less than six minutes to play (82-70).

Rockets are starting to feel the pressure. While Golden State chains four empty offensive possessions, they do not take advantage. Alperen Sengun is missing two frank throws, then was countering by Buddy Hield, and Fred Vanvleet makes a frustration lack on Jimmy Butler. The Butler-Curry-Hield trio spends a 12-0 to their opponent to kill the match and the series (94-74)!

After 2018 and 2019, this is the third time in a row that the Warriors have eliminated the Rockets on their prosecution.

What to remember

– It was Stephen Curry disguised as Buddy Hield! Everyone was waiting for a fireworks fire by Stephen Curry in this Game 7 but faced with the good defense of Houston, the double MVP played just and collective (22 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists). Unlike Game 6, his teammates responded, in particular Buddy Hield. Mute two days ago, the Bahamean delivered the machine of his life. He scored 22 of his 33 points in the first half at 6/7 at three points to allow the Warriors to go away. He finished the match at 9/11 at three points, equaling in passing the NBA record for the greatest number of 3-point marked in a Game 7. He was also precious in defense with a constant activity.

– Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green shine the Golden State collective. The three stars delivered a performance of an accuracy to salute. Curry scored 14 of his 22 points in the last quarter to finish the job but he put his mark on the match by doing everything else. Jimmy Butler (20 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists) was a metronome on both sides of the field. Draymond Green was intractable in defense and scored 8 of his 16 points in the first quarter to allow his team to start the match well. If his three players and Buddy Hield assured the brand, Steve Kerr was able to count on a solid Kevon Looney to help thwart the size of the Rockets, a Brandin Podziemski but also solid, and seven good defensive minutes of Jonathan Kuminga who replaced Gary Payton II, sick. With 24 assists, 18 3-point at 41% success, and an iron defense, it was a “vintage” victory for Golden State.

– The Amen Thompson rocket, the only positive point of the match for Houston. After winning with authority at Golden State two days ago, the Rockets had no response for the defense of Golden State. For the second time in the series and the second time in their season, they did not reach the 90 -point mark. Only Amen Thompson surgched. Again incredible on Stephen Curry, it was he who took matters into his own start at the end of the first half and in the third quarter to bring his team back in the match. He finished the match with 24 points and 9 rebounds and showed the full extent of his offensive panoply. Thompson made an appointment with the whole NBA in this series and Houston can build around him in the coming years.

How to read the stats? Min = minutes; Shots = successful shots / tempted shots; 3pts = 3-point / 3-point attempted; LF = Successful free throws / tempted free throws; O = offensive rebound; D = defensive rebound; T = total rebounds; PD = assists; FTE: Personal faults; Int = interceptions; BP = lost bullets; CT: against; +/- = Differential points when the player is on the field; Pts = points; EVAL: evaluation of the player calculated from positive actions – negative actions.