Game 7 Heartbreak: Where Did the Rockets Fall Short, and Is Kevin Durant the Answer?

When the final buzzer sounded at the Toyota Center, it wasn't just the end of Game 7 — it felt like the premature conclusion of a promising season. The Houston Rockets, the No. 2 seed in the West, had been eliminated in a shocking 103-89 home loss to the battle-tested Golden State Warriors. A first-round exit. A black seven. And more questions than answers.

Let’s start with the game itself.

Buddy Hield’s Unlikely Takeover

Nobody, not even the Warriors themselves, expected Buddy Hield to be the hero. In Games 5 and 6 combined, he had totaled just 4 points. But in Game 7, Hield went absolutely nuclear. He dropped 33 points on 15 shots, connecting on 9 of his 11 three-point attempts, tying the all-time Game 7 record for most threes and becoming the first player in NBA history to score 30+ in a Game 7 without a single free throw attempt. His +17 plus-minus was second only to Draymond Green.

With Stephen Curry smothered by the Rockets' defense, scoring 0 in the first quarter and just 3 in the first half, it was Hield who carried the offensive load. He drilled six threes in the first half alone — matching the Rockets’ total for the entire game. His shooting performance wasn’t just timely; it was historic.

The Warriors’ Core Does Just Enough

Curry, despite dealing with a finger injury, played 45 minutes and saved his best for last. After three quarters of struggle, he came alive in the fourth, scoring 14 points, including 9 in a momentum-killing stretch that halted Houston's last real surge. He also dished the assist on a dagger three from Hield that pushed the lead to 20, then delivered his signature "Night Night" celebration.

Jimmy Butler was omnipresent. In 45 minutes, he posted 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists. His personal six-point run early in the fourth opened the floodgates for the Warriors' game-clinching run. With this win, Butler made history as the first player ever to lead a No. 8 seed to a first-round upset (the Bucks in 2023) and later do the same as a No. 7 seed (the Rockets in 2025).

And then there was Draymond Green — emotional, physical, and irreplaceable. Despite a controversial hit on Fred VanVleet, Draymond contributed 16 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks, and a steal, while being the primary disruptor of Alperen Şengün. The Turkish big man shot just 9-of-23 from the field, much of that due to Green's relentless physicality.

Houston’s Offensive Implosion

As much as the Warriors deserve praise, the Rockets’ performance was equally defined by failure. Their offense was nothing short of prehistoric — 18 three-point attempts in a Game 7 in 2025? Just 14 assists? Only 89 points?

They managed just 2 threes and 3 assists in the entire first half. Their half-court offense resembled a clogged drain: no movement, little creativity, and zero rhythm. Houston had the league’s second-best record for a reason, but none of that identity showed up in the season’s most important game.

The Jalen Green Dilemma

Perhaps the biggest disappointment was Jalen Green. The No. 2 overall pick, on a nine-figure contract, vanished when it mattered most. He shot 3-of-8, went 0-of-2 from deep, and scored just 8 points — 2 of which came in garbage time. In the entire seven-game series, he averaged a paltry 13.3 points, with only one breakout game (38 points in Game 2). In the other six games? Four times he failed to score in double digits.

For a team constructed to highlight his strengths — space, shooters, a passing big, and a defensive backline — Green’s inability to capitalize was damning. If he couldn’t make it work in this environment, you have to ask: Will he ever?

Şengün: The Floor, But Not the Ceiling

Alperen Şengün had his moments. He posted 21 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 assists in Game 7, but it took him 23 shots to get there. Draymond Green’s defensive IQ proved too much, and Şengün's inefficiency was emblematic of a series where his Jokic-lite production (20.9/11.9/5.3) masked subpar shooting splits: 45% from the field, 37.5% from deep, and a dismal 62.5% from the line. His true shooting percentage? A meager 49.1%.

He's undoubtedly the heart of this Rockets team, but his ceiling as a go-to scorer in the playoffs remains in question.

Amen Thompson: A Silver Lining in the Storm

There was one beacon of hope, though — and it burned bright. Amen Thompson, the 22-year-old second-year guard, had his best game in the most critical moment: 24 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 1 steal, and zero turnovers in 37 minutes. He guarded everyone from Curry to Jimmy Butler to Brandin Podziemski — and in 29 possessions across 6 minutes against that trio, they scored exactly zero points.

Amen's defense across the entire series was elite. When guarding Curry across 150 possessions and 32 minutes, Curry shot just 11-of-27, scored 34 points, had 5 assists — but also turned the ball over 8 times. Against Butler and Podziemski, Thompson allowed just 22 points on 19 shots over 110 combined possessions.

And after a quiet start to the series, Amen exploded in the final four games, averaging 20 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.5 steals, and 1 block per game while shooting 54.7% from the field and 80.8% from the line.

This is a player without a reliable jumper — yet he dominated with IQ, athleticism, and relentless energy. If he ever develops a consistent shot, the league should be very afraid.

What’s Next: KD, Giannis, or Stay the Course?

Now comes the offseason, and with it, hard decisions. The Rockets have draft capital, cap flexibility, and an impatient fanbase. If you believe the Shams Charania report from April, the Rockets were eyeing Kevin Durant if they exited early. Well, the early exit happened — and Jalen Green gave the front office every reason to consider alternatives.

Durant, despite his age, is still a plug-and-play superstar who garners respect across the league. Head coach Ime Udoka loves his professionalism. The Suns might be ready to blow it up. And with Houston holding a swap and unprotected picks from Phoenix, the leverage is there.

Another possibility? Giannis Antetokounmpo.

If Milwaukee undergoes a shake-up — and the whispers around Giannis leaving grow louder — Houston could position itself as a suitor. A core of Giannis, Şengün, Amen, and a few defensive wings could be terrifying. It would cost them Green, and probably more, but the timeline fits. Giannis is still in his prime. Durant is not.

Either way, the Rockets are at a crossroads. Unlike the Thunder, who have an MVP-level guard in SGA, Houston lacks a true offensive centerpiece. They have depth, size, athleticism, and IQ. But in the playoffs, you need someone who gets buckets.

They believed Jalen Green could be that guy.

Now, they’re not so sure.

Commentary:

When a young team goes down in Game 7, the instinct is to say, "They'll be back." But not all losses are created equal. The Rockets weren’t just beaten — they were exposed. Their supposed scoring star disappeared. Their half-court offense collapsed. And yet, within that rubble stands Amen Thompson, defiant and determined, the type of player who doesn't wait for stardom — he snatches it.

The Rockets have a decision to make this summer. They can run it back and hope for growth. Or they can flip their considerable assets for a legend like Durant or a force like Giannis. What they can't do is waste Amen’s development window waiting for Jalen Green to become something he may never be.

Houston has the tools. It’s time to build something real.