As the NBA playoffs moved towards the second round starting Sunday, two crucial Game 7 matchups highlighted the schedule. While the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves quickly dispatched their initial opponents, the other two series in the Western Conference proved to be intensely competitive in the opening round.
The LA Clippers managed to force a Game 7 against the Denver Nuggets with a 111-105 win on Thursday, but they couldn`t maintain that momentum on the road Saturday. Denver secured a decisive 120-101 victory to advance and face the Thunder.
Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets, trailing 3-1 on Wednesday, kept their season alive with a 115-107 road win against Golden State on Friday night. These two teams are set to clash on Sunday evening for the chance to advance to the second round against the Timberwolves.
With the Nuggets already through, what are the most significant factors heading into Sunday`s winner-take-all Game 7? What strategies must each team execute to move forward? NBA analysts weigh in to answer the key questions surrounding this decisive matchup.
Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets
How Can the Warriors Advance?
Golden State`s extensive Game 7 experience in the playoffs should be a significant advantage on Sunday. Veterans like Stephen Curry and Draymond Green have participated in five Game 7s each, and their coach, Steve Kerr, has coached in four. This collective experience is invaluable in high-pressure situations.
The Warriors must find a way to counter Houston`s zone defense and free up scoring opportunities for Curry. In Game 6, Curry scored 29 points but managed only 13 in the second half, shooting 4-for-13. Historically, Curry has excelled in Game 7s, averaging 32.6 points in his career, placing him fourth all-time behind only Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Michael Jordan. The Warriors also need additional offensive contributions. A third scorer needs to step up, whether it`s Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, or Moses Moody hitting timely outside shots to disrupt the zone. Draymond Green`s defensive presence will be crucial; he needs to perform at a Defensive Player of the Year level. Golden State must also minimize turnovers and contain Fred VanVleet. Coach Kerr mentioned that “everything is on the table” for Game 7, hinting that a wild card like Jonathan Kuminga could see unexpected playing time.
How Can the Rockets Advance?
Coach Ime Udoka emphasizes the importance of consistency, playing intelligently, and executing simple plays repeatedly – core principles that remain unchanged. Houston has troubled Golden State, particularly when using lineups featuring two big men, which often incorporates zone looks “out of necessity,” according to Udoka, to protect certain defensive matchups.
Notably, the Rockets have utilized zone defense even with the sharp-shooting Stephen Curry on the court. Udoka explained that “Our activity up top is great, and the principles with obviously Curry and recognizing where he is in the zone, it takes a lot of communication. And if you stay with him, we fill the spots behind it.” Golden State will undoubtedly look for ways to exploit this strategy in Game 7. Houston needs to maintain its physical intensity against the older, potentially fatigued Warriors. Winning the battles for paint scoring and second-chance points is also critical. Udoka frequently highlights Houston`s philosophy of converting defense into fast-break offense, which allows them to push the pace. In Game 6, the Rockets scored 22 points off 17 Golden State turnovers. Players like Amen Thompson, Dillon Brooks, and Jalen Green will be key in generating these fast-break opportunities.
How Did They Get Here?
The Warriors stole Game 1 on the road, winning a physical contest that Steve Kerr likened to a game from 1997, emphasizing defense and the value of every possession. Curry led the Warriors with 31 points, while Jimmy Butler delivered a “Playoff Jimmy” performance with 25 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and five steals. However, Houston responded strongly in Game 2 with a dominant 109-94 victory, fueled by Jalen Green`s 38 points. Butler`s game was cut short after just eight minutes in the first quarter due to a painful glute contusion sustained when Amen Thompson undercut him during a defensive rebound attempt.
Butler missed Game 3 due to the injury, but the Warriors secured a 104-93 home win, largely thanks to Curry`s 36 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds. Golden State then took what seemed like a commanding 3-1 series lead in Game 4. Butler returned and scored 14 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter, also securing a critical rebound in the final seconds after Draymond Green forced a missed shot from Alperen Sengun. However, the Rockets struck back in Game 5 with a routing performance, building a lead as large as 31 points early in the third quarter before Kerr withdrew his starters. In Game 6, Golden State failed to clinch the series at home. They missed 14 of their first 15 shots in the fourth quarter, allowing Houston to go on a decisive 20-5 run. The Rockets` effective zone defense has consistently challenged Golden State and occasionally limited Curry`s impact, ultimately forcing this Game 7.
Key Factors for Game 7
Houston`s utilization of double-big lineups featuring Steven Adams and Alperen Sengun has been a defining characteristic of this series. Despite being outscored by 18 points in the 22.5 minutes Adams and Sengun played together in Game 4, Golden State still managed to win. However, in Game 5, with everything clicking for Houston, Udoka used his two centers less but saw them post a plus-eight rating in 13 minutes.
The fourth quarter of Game 6 provided the most significant stage yet for the Adams-Sengun pairing; they were on the court for nearly the entire period before both teams rested starters. Houston`s double-bigs had a plus-nine rating during this time. Notably, Udoka didn`t hesitate when Steve Kerr intentionally fouled Adams in Game 6 – a departure from Game 4, where Adams was subbed out after fouls until the final two minutes. Adams made 9 of 16 free throws on intentional fouls, and Sengun rebounded two of Adams` misses, resulting in 13 points over eight possessions with an offensive rating of 162.5.
Part of the difficulty for the Warriors is that Houston has effectively used Adams, who is blocking shots at a career-high rate in this series, and Sengun in a hybrid defense designed to always have a defender contesting Stephen Curry. While Curry still scored 29 points and made six 3s in Game 6, he shot just 9-of-23 overall and committed five turnovers, indicating the defense`s effectiveness. While Udoka has successfully experimented with different lineup combinations, the Warriors` coaching staff seems to be struggling to find their optimal five-man unit. Kerr started Payton in Game 6 to improve perimeter defense on VanVleet, but Payton isn`t the same three-point threat as Brandin Podziemski, allowing Houston defenders to sag off him. Aside from Curry, Golden State`s other four starters combined to shoot just 3-of-18 from three-point range in that game, highlighting a critical lack of consistent outside shooting beyond their superstar.
