Fred VanVleet delivered an impressive performance with 29 points, eight assists, and eight rebounds, while Alperen Sengun added 21 points and 14 rebounds. Their efforts helped the Houston Rockets secure a 115-107 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Friday night. This win forces a decisive Game 7 in their first-round playoff series.
The Warriors struggled offensively at a critical moment, missing 13 consecutive shots after Draymond Green's basket at the 10:12 mark. Stephen Curry finally broke the drought with a three-pointer at 3:35. The teams will now travel to Houston for Game 7 on Sunday, where the winner will face Minnesota in the Western Conference semifinals.

Stephen Curry scored 29 points but had difficulty finding his rhythm, shooting just 9 of 23 overall and making only six of his 16 three-point attempts. Jimmy Butler contributed significantly with 27 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists. Despite these efforts, Golden State couldn't capitalize on their home-court advantage at Chase Center.
VanVleet's crucial four-point play early in the fourth quarter extended Houston's lead after Curry's late third-quarter surge brought the Warriors within two points. Jalen Green followed up with a putback score, and VanVleet's three-pointer with 6:47 left pushed the Rockets' lead to 101-89.
Curry managed a driving layup with just under a minute left in the third quarter to narrow the gap to four points, energizing fans clad in bright yellow playoff shirts. He then sank two free throws as Golden State closed in at 86-84. However, Houston consistently responded to every challenge posed by the Warriors.
Steven Adams played a pivotal role off the bench for Houston, contributing 17 points along with key hustle plays. His efforts were part of a balanced team performance that allowed the Rockets to counteract Golden State's attempts to seize control of the game.
The Rockets' ability to maintain composure under pressure was evident throughout the match. Their resilience ensured they had an answer for nearly every significant play made by Golden State. As both teams prepare for Game 7, anticipation builds for what promises to be an intense showdown in Houston.