Key Performers

It was a team effort from the Rockets, but Alperen Şengün was the MVP of the night with an insane 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists. Talk about clutch! Jabari Smith Jr. added 15 points, showing his growing influence on this Rockets squad.

For the Warriors, Stephen Curry did what he does best, scoring 19 points with his usual flair. Jonathan Kuminga also stepped up with 20 points, but it just wasn’t enough to seal the deal.

Team Stats

The Rockets shot 45.8% from the field, while the Warriors lagged slightly behind at 44.0%. The Warriors drained 12 three-pointers compared to Houston’s 6, but the Rockets’ 90% free-throw accuracy (9/10) proved critical.

• Rockets: 58 points in the paint, 23 assists, 10 steals
• Warriors: 40 points in the paint, 22 assists, 13 steals

Turning Points

The Warriors came out strong in the third quarter, outscoring Houston 32-24, but the Rockets managed to regain control in the final minutes. Houston’s defense was clutch, and Şengün’s dominance inside the paint was the game-changer.

The Warriors’ struggles from the free-throw line (just 44.4%) and some costly turnovers in the dying moments sealed their fate.

What’s Next?

[embedded content]

The Rockets advance to the West Semifinals where they will face off against the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder in Las Vegas.

The Warriors, meanwhile, will need to regroup and address their inconsistencies. With stars like Curry and Kuminga, they’ll be back, but this one stings for Dub Nation.

The Rockets showed they’ve got the guts to hang with anyone, and Şengün was an absolute beast out there. Smith Jr. stepped up big time, too. The Warriors fought hard—because, come on, it’s Steph Curry—but they just fell short this time. Now, all eyes are on the Rockets as they head to the semis. Can they keep this momentum going? We can’t wait to find out. Buckle up, NBA fans—things are heating up!