The Houston Rockets kept their season alive with a 115-107 win over the Golden State Warriors in Game 6, forcing a decisive Game 7 in their first-round playoff series. The victory showcased Houston’s resilience, as they overcame a hostile environment at Chase Center to extend the series.
Fred VanVleet was the driving force behind Houston’s win, delivering a stellar 29-point, 8-rebound, 8-assist performance. His sharpshooting from beyond the arc—9-of-16 on three-pointers—kept the Warriors’ defense scrambling. Alperen Sengun also played a crucial role, contributing 21 points, 14 rebounds, and 6 assists, dominating the paint.
Despite Stephen Curry’s 29-point effort, the Warriors struggled to maintain momentum. Curry, who battled foul trouble, shot 9-of-23 from the field and 6-of-16 from deep, but his fourth-quarter performance was lackluster. Jimmy Butler added 27 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists, but even his all-around effort wasn’t enough to counter Houston’s offensive firepower.
The Warriors had a chance to close the gap late in the game, but their offense went cold at the worst possible time. Golden State missed 13 straight shots between Draymond Green’s basket at the 10:12 mark and Curry’s three-pointer with 3:35 left, allowing the Rockets to pull away. Houston capitalized on the Warriors’ struggles, executing a 11-0 run to extend their lead to 17 points in the final minutes.
With the series now tied 3-3, the Rockets and Warriors will face off in a winner-takes-all Game 7 at Toyota Center in Houston. The matchup marks the first Game 7 in Houston since 2018, when the Rockets famously fell to the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals.
