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Failure to launch: Rockets’ half-court offense exposed in Game 7 loss to Warriors

By David Web

HOUSTON — In a fitting result to end their 2024-25 season, the Rockets couldn’t generate nearly enough half-court offense in Sunday’s103-89 loss (box score) to the Warriors. With another series-closing win at Toyota Center — their third in under seven years — Golden State clinched its first-round series and advanced to the second round of the Western Conference playoffs to face Minnesota.

With under two-and-a-half minutes left to play in Game 7, the Rockets trailed by 20 and had scored only 74 points. The final scoring total resulted from 15 points in effectively garbage time.

The Rockets ranked among the NBA’s top-five defensive teams for nearly the entire season but were middle-of-the-pack in offense, and ultimately that’s what caught up with them against the Warriors. In three of the four losses this series, Houston scored 93 points or fewer, and they failed to crack 90 in two of them.

“We kinda have a blueprint of where we want to be,” head coach Ime Udoka said postgame. “But none of that really matters when you go out…. and lay an egg.”

Sharpshooting wing Buddy Hield led the Warriors with 33 points on incredible 12-of-15 shooting (80.0%), including 9-of-11 from 3-point range (81.8%). Of those points, 22 came in the first half, which allowed Golden State to play with a double-digit lead for a majority of the second half.

Houston closed to within three points late in the third quarter amid a surge from Amen Thompson, who led the Rockets in Game 7 with 24 points and 9 rebounds on 9-of-16 shooting (56.3%). However, he struggled with calf cramps and the Warriors quickly rebuilt a buffer, and Houston never got any closer than seven points in the fourth and final quarter.

Beyond Hield, other standouts for the Warriors included:

  • Stephen Curry: 22 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks; 8-of-16 shooting (50.0%), 4-of-10 on 3-pointers (40.0%)
  • Jimmy Butler: 20 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists; 7-of-13 shooting (53.8%), 2-of-3 on 3-pointers (66.7%), 4-of-5 on free throws (80.0%)
  • Draymond Green: 16 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks; 7-of-15 shooting (46.7%)

Beyond Thompson and Fred VanVleet, who had 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting (46.2%) and 3-of-6 from 3-point range, it was a nightmarish game for Houston’s shotmaking.

Those who struggled for the Rockets included:

  • Jalen Green: 8 points, 4 rebounds; 3-of-8 shooting (37.5%), 0-of-2 on 3-pointers
  • Alperen Sengun: 21 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists; 9-of-23 shooting (39.1%)
  • Jabari Smith Jr.: 3 points, 4 rebounds; 1-of-5 shooting (20.0%)
  • Tari Eason: 5 points, 5 rebounds, 2-of-6 shooting (33.3%)
  • Dillon Brooks: 8 points, 2 rebounds; 3-of-9 shooting (33.3%), 0-of-3 on 3-pointers

The Warriors made 18 shots from 3-point range (41.9%) as a team, while Houston connected on only six. Of those six makes, three (two by VanVleet, one by Sengun) came in the final two minutes after the game had long been decided and the Warriors were no longer defending with any intensity. Green and Sengun each added an uncontested layup and dunk in that window, as well, to slightly massage the final scoring and efficiency numbers.

Houston’s defense could only force seven turnovers, which limited their fast-break points to 10 for the game. With the Rockets unable to generate transition advantages using their superior speed, athleticism, and size, it became a battle of half-court execution on offense — and that’s an area where the young Rockets have been inconsistent, at best, throughout the season.

In that sense, it was a fitting way for them to go out.

Game 7 Highlights

Game 7 Postgame Analysis, Interviews

Rockets-Warriors Series Results

Golden State opens its second-round playoff series on Tuesday night at Minnesota. Tipoff of Game 1 against the Timberwolves is at 8:30 p.m. Central.

More: ‘Whatever it takes’: Veteran Fred VanVleet steps up as Rockets face playoff pressure

This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Warriors eliminate Rockets as Houston’s offense stalls out in Game 7

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