Rockets force Game 7 in Houston as Fred VanVleet bests Warriors and Steph Curry, again

[ASFN Admin]

Veteran Rockets guard Fred VanVleet outdueled Warriors counterpart Steph Curry for a third consecutive game as Houston won Friday's Game 6 at Golden State, 115-107 (box score). After a slow start to the series, VanVleet has been magnificent in recent days.

With the victory, the Rockets tied their best-of-seven, first-round playoff series against the Warriors at three games apiece. Based on their superior record in the NBA's 2024-25 regular season, a decisive, winner-take-all Game 7 will take place Sunday night at Houston's Toyota Center.

Statistical standouts for both teams included:

• Fred VanVleet: 29 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists; 7-of-13 shooting (53.8%), 6-of-9 on 3-pointers (66.7%), 9-of-9 on free throws
• Alperen Sengun: 21 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals; 8-of-20 shooting (40.0%), 5-of-7 free throws (71.4%)
• Steven Adams: 17 points, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks; 4-of-4 shooting, 9-of-16 on free throws (56.3%)
• Amen Thompson: 14 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals; 5-of-13 shooting (38.5%), 4-of-6 on 3-pointers (66.7%)
• Steph Curry: 29 points, 7 rebounds; 9-of-23 shooting (39.1%), 6-of-16 on 3-pointers (37.5%)
• Jimmy Butler: 27 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists; 7-of-17 shooting (41.2%), 12-of-14 on free throws (85.7%)

The Rockets limited Golden State to 15-of-49 shooting from 3-point range (30.6%), while Houston made an efficient 12-of-30 (40.0%) from deep. Led by Sengun and Adams inside, Houston won the rebounding battle decisively, 62-51.

For Houston, it was just the second playoff victory at Golden State in franchise history (now 2-13). The first was Game 4 of the 2018 Western Conference finals.

Game 6 Highlights​

Game 6 Analysis, Interviews​

Greatest shooters of all time
1. Steph Curry
2. Playoff Fred VanVleet in the Bay Area

— kyle (@knicks_tape99) May 3, 2025

Fred VanVleet has easily out played Curry last 3 games pic.twitter.com/EzwKCUTTR6

— BIGMEM12 (@BIGMEM12) May 3, 2025

Fun Fact: Fred VanVleet has the best record (7-5) by any guard in NBA history vs Steph Curry in the playoffs (min. 10 games) pic.twitter.com/kkhcLd3tU9

— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 3, 2025

Fred VanVleet on Steven Adams:

"He's like a big caveman in this era of small basketball. An old big just roughing everybody up. We're gonna play him until he dies out there."pic.twitter.com/KjhBL7YlAC

— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) May 3, 2025

The Rockets are a +53 with Steven Adams on the floor this series, and -39 without him.

What can the Warriors do to adjust in Game 7? pic.twitter.com/zuoo6P5HUL

— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) May 3, 2025

Security didn’t allow us to record the Rockets’ entrance, but “One more” is the phrase being repeated as the team heads for the locker room. https://t.co/RPYBqcg3Fx

— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) May 3, 2025

Great, gutsy, tough win for the Rockets. While considering Adams' impact (along with FVV's,) consider not just that the Rockets stole him for two 2nds, but also how he and they carefully built him back up from where he was physically to start the season to this.

— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) May 3, 2025

THAT’S A DUBBBBBB pic.twitter.com/yhNAdlGb8x

— Vanessa Richardson (@SportsVanessa) May 3, 2025

"Whatever it takes, he’s not a stat guy; he’s a winning guy," said Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka about guard Fred VanVleet. #Rockets#Sargehttps://t.co/lIckIdcxlc

— BIG SARGE MEDIA LLC (@BigSargeSportz) May 3, 2025

The Rockets big three tonight:

Fred VanVleet

29 PTS | 8 REB | 8 AST | 6/9 3FG

Alperen Sengun

21 PTS | 14 REB | 6 AST | 3 STL

Steven Adams

17 PTS | 5 REB | 9/16 FT

Showed out in Game 6

— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) May 3, 2025

So many people counted them out down 3-1.

These Rockets did not listen and did not quit.

This team just silenced Steph Curry and the Warriors in San Francisco. We will have a Game 7 back in Houston on Sunday.

— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) May 3, 2025

Fred VanVleet in his last 3 games for the Rockets

29 PTS 7-of-13 FG (6 3PT)
26 PTS 8-of-13 FG (4 3PT)
25 PTS 8-of-13 FG (8 3PT) pic.twitter.com/wLvCqrrZg0

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 3, 2025

GAME. 7. pic.twitter.com/570oQq6eJW

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 3, 2025

Steve Kerr said Jonathan Kuminga’s return to the rotation is “100 percent on the table” in Game 7 pic.twitter.com/MBmTzCE91b

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 3, 2025

Only players in NBA history to average

20.0+ PPG
10.0+ RPG
5.0+ APG
1.5+ SPG

in the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/AoqPmRkHJq

— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 3, 2025

Steven Adams on the Rockets defensive zone that has given the Warriors fits: "It's a weird zone. Like a bizarre one, but it works."

— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) May 3, 2025

“This crowd be annoying me.”

-Bay Area native Amen Thompson pic.twitter.com/BgnEGElEDt

— Vanessa Richardson (@SportsVanessa) May 3, 2025

Rockets-Warriors in 2025 NBA Playoffs​

• Game 1: Warriors 95, Rockets 85 (Golden State leads, 1-0)
• Game 2: Rockets 109, Warriors 94 (Series tied, 1-1)
• Game 3: Warriors 104, Rockets 93 (Golden State leads, 2-1)
• Game 4: Warriors 109, Rockets 106 (Golden State leads, 3-1)
• Game 5: Rockets 131, Warriors 116 (Golden State leads, 3-2)
• Game 6: Rockets 115, Warriors 107 (Series tied, 3-3)
• Game 7: at Houston (Sunday, May 4, 7:30 p.m. Central on TNT)

All first-round games not televised on ABC are also televised via a regional Space City Home Network broadcast featuring Houston’s own broadcast team.

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

This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Rockets force home Game 7 as Fred VanVleet bests Steph Curry, again

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