Game 6 between the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors at the Chase Center in San Francisco last night was a battle that showed why the Rockets earned the second seed in the Western Conference. The Warriors had a chance to close out the series at home, but Houston had other plans, securing a 115-107 victory to even the series at 3-3. Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler combined for 56 points, but the Warriors struggled beyond their stars, with no other player scoring more than 13 points. The Rockets had a balanced attack, with five players scoring at least 12 points, led by Fred VanVleet, who loves to play the Warriors, and Alperen Sengun, who combined for 50 points, 22 rebounds and 14 assists.
A Lighthearted Moment Amid the Intensity
Video from the fourth quarter of Game 6, with the score Houston 98, Warriors 89, captures a surprising moment of levity in an otherwise heated matchup. Steven Adams, the 7-foot, 250-pound center, sneaks up on Jimmy Butler, who is locked in a battle for the ball with Houston’s Amen Thompson. Adams wraps both players in a massive bear hug, looking like a giant child hugging his favorite stuffed animal. The playful gesture was meant to defuse tension as the series has been marked by physical play and frequent collisions since Game 1.
Adams, now in his 11th NBA season and first active year with Houston after missing last season with an injury, brought a calming presence to the court. He finished with 17 points and 5 rebounds in 31 minutes. Warriors coach Steve Kerr will have to adjust his defense for Game 7, as Rockets coach Ime Udoka seems to have cracked the code against Golden State’s schemes. Sunday’s matchup promises to be both physical and exciting.
Houston’s frontcourt duo of Steven Adams and Sengun overwhelmed Golden State, especially when both were on the floor. Adams, in particular, was a game-changer, playing 31 minutes – his most in the playoffs since 2020. The Rockets are an astounding +53 with Adams on the court in this series, compared to -39 when he’s on the bench, making him a true X-factor as the series heads to a decisive Game 7 on Sunday at the Toyota Center in Houston.
What’s Next in the NBA Playoffs
The winner of this thrilling Game 7 will advance to the Western Conference Semifinals to face the Minnesota Timberwolves and Anthony Edwards. If the Warriors advance, the Timberwolves will have homecourt advantage, and it will mark Butler’s return to Minnesota, where his departure years ago was less than amicable. Should the Rockets prevail, they will host the series, but either way, the matchup with Minnesota will be a physical, high-intensity battle – something truly exciting to watch.
Game 7 will tip off Sunday at 8:30 ET in Houston, wrapping up the first round of the playoffs in the West. Elsewhere in the East, the Cavaliers take on the Pacers and the Celtics battle the Knicks, while tonight in Denver, the Clippers and Nuggets decide who will face the Thunder in a Game 7 showdown.
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