Buddy Hield Makes NBA History in Game 7: Warriors Eliminate Rockets in First-Round Stunner
When it mattered the most, Buddy Hield stepped up big time.
Golden State Warriors shooting guard Buddy Hield just delivered the performance of his life—and maybe one of the most clutch Game 7 outings in recent memory. In a do-or-die situation, Hield didn’t just show up—he shut it down with a playoff career-high 33 points in Sunday’s 103-89 win over the Houston Rockets.
What’s the big deal? This wasn’t just a great game—it was historic.
How Did Buddy Hield Make NBA History?
Let’s start with the crazy stat line. Hield went off for 33 points on 12-of-15 shooting (yep, 80%!) and knocked down nine 3-pointers. That ties the NBA record for the most threes in a Game 7.
Even wilder? He didn’t shoot a single free throw. That makes him the first player in NBA history to score 30+ points in a Game 7 without going to the line even once. That’s right—zero freebies. Just pure, lights-out shooting.
Think about that. In a high-pressure, physical playoff game, most scorers rack up points by drawing fouls. But Buddy did all his damage from the field. That’s some rare shooting confidence.
What Changed for Hield in Game 7?
Honestly, you wouldn’t have seen this coming if you watched the rest of the series.
Before Game 7, Buddy was struggling. Like really struggling. Through the first six games of the series, he averaged just 7.2 points per game, shooting a cold 37% from the field and 29% from beyond the arc. In Game 6? Zero points on 0-for-4 shooting.
But in Game 7? Different story. Buddy dropped 22 points in the first half alone, helping Golden State build a 12-point halftime lead. Then he came back in the fourth quarter and iced the game with another scoring burst.
He looked like a different player. Confident. Focused. Deadly.
What Sparked Buddy’s Turnaround?
After the game, Hield gave us a little insight—and it’s powerful.
He said the transformation began the night before Game 7, during a team meeting in Houston. But this wasn’t your typical film session or walkthrough. It was an emotional heart-to-heart led by the Warriors’ veteran leaders: Draymond Green, Stephen Curry, and Jimmy Butler.
“Yesterday, when we got to Houston, we had a very emotional meeting led by Draymond, Steph, and Jimmy,” Hield told TNT. “From then, I was just locked in and just getting my spirit together.”
He said the meeting gave everyone “chills.”
And apparently, it worked. Whatever was said in that room lit a fire in Buddy—and possibly the whole team.
Who Else Stepped Up for the Warriors?
While Hield stole the spotlight, he wasn’t the only Warrior to show out.
Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler combined for 42 points, doing their usual damage. The team’s defense also locked in, holding the Rockets to just 89 points and limiting them to 6-for-18 (33.3%) from deep.
On the other side, young Rockets wing Amen Thompson led Houston with 24 points. But it wasn’t enough. The Warriors just had too much firepower—and too much experience.
What’s Next for Buddy and the Warriors?
With this win, Golden State moves on to face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round. Game 1 tips off Tuesday night in Minneapolis.
For Buddy Hield, it’ll be his first playoff appearance beyond Round 1 in his nine-year NBA career. And after a red-hot Game 7, all eyes will be on him to see if he can keep that same energy going.
Will he stay hot? Can he be the X-factor again in a tough series against a gritty Minnesota team?
One thing’s for sure—he’s got momentum now. And sometimes, that’s all a shooter needs.
What do you think about Buddy Hield’s Game 7 explosion? Do the Warriors have another deep playoff run in them?
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