, the first round of the 2024-25 NBA playoffs ushered in a fierce Western Conference tiebreaker. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Houston Rockets 103-89 away from home, advancing to the Western Conference semifinals with a total score of 4-3. In the next round, they will face the Minnesota Timberwolves. In this game, the Warriors team blossomed in many places. Hield scored a game-high 33 points and became a surprise player, while Curry delivered a near triple-double performance of 22 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists, laying the foundation for the team's victory.

At the beginning of the game, both teams focused on defense, and the poor outside shooting made the score relatively low in the first quarter. The Warriors had a slight advantage at the end of the quarter, temporarily leading 23-19 . In the second quarter, the Warriors gradually regained their rhythm, improving their outside shooting rate while strengthening their transition offense. The Rockets were still in poor form, scoring only 20 points in a single quarter. At the end of the half, the Warriors widened the gap to double digits, with the score coming to 52-39 .

After the change of sides, the Rockets made adjustments during the intermission, trying to rely on Shin Kyung and Amen Thompson 's breakthroughs to tear through the Warriors' defense, but their offensive efficiency still did not improve. On the other hand, although the Warriors fell into a short scoring drought in the third quarter, they still maintained their lead in the score with tenacious defense and rhythm control. Entering the fourth quarter, the Warriors re-increased the pressure, and Hield and Curry teamed up to hit key shots, completely extinguishing the Rockets' hope of a counterattack.

Cavaliers player statistics

Mitchell 33 points, 5 rebounds , 4 assists, Jerome 21 points , 3 rebounds , 8 assists , Mobley 20 points , 10 rebounds , 2 assists , 2 steals, Allen 12 points , 5 rebounds , 1 assist , 2 steals , Hunter 11 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, Strus 7 points, 7 rebounds , 3 assists , 2 steals , Merrill 6 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists , Okoro 2 points , 2 rebounds , 2 assists, Wade 3 rebounds

Pacers player statistics

Nembhard 23 points and 6 assists, Haliburton 22 points , 3 rebounds , 13 assists and 3 blocks, Nesmith 17 points and 8 rebounds , Siakam 17 points , 7 rebounds and 4 assists, Turner 13 points , 12 rebounds , 1 assist , 3 steals and 2 blocks, Marceline 11 points , 5 rebounds and 1 assist, Toppin 7 points , 5 rebounds and 2 assists, McConaughey 7 points, 1 rebound and 2 assists, Bryant 2 points and 2 rebounds, Walker 2 points and 1 assist

With this victory, the Warriors completed the series reversal and will face the hot Timberwolves in the semifinals. For this team with many experienced veterans, their lower limit in the playoffs has never been underestimated. Whether the lineup led by Curry and Butler can continue to move forward will become the focus of the next round.