The Houston Rockets’ playoff run got here to an finish in a 103-89 loss to the Golden State Warriors in Game 7 of the Western Conference first-round sequence.
Despite a double-double efficiency from Alperen Şengün, who posted 21 factors and 14 rebounds, the Rockets had been unable to beat the Warriors’ offensive firepower.
Şengün performed practically 40 minutes, contributing 21 factors, 14 rebounds, 5 assists, one steal, and one block.
His efforts, nevertheless, weren’t sufficient to cease a scorching Buddy Hield, who led the Warriors with 33 factors, together with an NBA-record 9 3-pointers in a Game 7.
Hield’s dominant first half, the place he scored 22 factors, set the tone for Golden State’s early benefit.
Stephen Curry, who had struggled within the first half, got here alive within the fourth quarter, scoring 14 of his 22 factors and including 10 rebounds and 7 assists.
His clutch pictures, together with a pivotal 3-pointer and a pair of key assists to Hield, sealed the sport for the Warriors.
Rockets fall quick regardless of robust efforts
Amen Thompson led the Rockets with 24 factors and 9 rebounds, whereas Fred VanVleet added 17 factors and 7 rebounds.
Despite slicing the Warriors’ result in eight early within the fourth, Houston’s capturing struggles, notably from the 3-point line, proved pricey.
The Rockets completed simply 6 of 18 from deep, in comparison with Golden State’s 14 of 26.
“We had our chances in this series,” stated Rockets coach Ime Udoka. “It’s going to sting now, but we’ll use it as motivation to come back better.”
Warriors’ resilience on level
The Warriors, who eradicated Houston for the fifth time within the playoffs, superior to face the Minnesota Timberwolves within the subsequent spherical. Golden State’s dominant efficiency, led by Hield’s historic capturing and Curry’s late-game heroics, despatched the Rockets packing of their first playoff look since 2020.
Pacers take early japanese lead
In different playoff motion, the Indiana Pacers defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 121-112 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Andrew Nembhard and Tyrese Haliburton mixed for 45 factors and 19 assists to provide the Pacers a 1-0 lead within the sequence.
Despite Donovan Mitchell’s 33 factors for Cleveland, the Cavaliers could not discover sufficient defensive stops to stave off Indiana’s balanced assault.
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