Golden State Warriors vs Houston Rockets Match Player Stats Breakdown (May 02, 2025)

The Golden State Warriors vs Houston Rockets match player stats from Game 6 capture the raw data behind what became a season-saving performance for Houston and a nightmare collapse for Golden State in this Western Conference first-round playoff battle.

With their season hanging by a thread and Chase Center roaring for their elimination, the Rockets somehow found the resilience to not just survive but thrive under the intense pressure of playoff basketball. As the final buzzer sounded and the scoreboard showed 115-107, the body language told the story. Houston players celebrated with measured confidence while Warriors stars looked shell-shocked at the opportunity they’d squandered.

Game 6 Context: Win or Go Home

Facing elimination on the road, Houston entered Chase Center with their NBA playoff lives on the line.

Golden State, holding a commanding 3-2 series lead after dropping Game 5 in Houston, aimed to close out the first-round series at home and advance to face Minnesota in the conference semifinals.

The Rockets entered this Western Conference playoff matchup with newfound confidence, having just taken Game 5 in Houston 131-108 after initially falling behind 3-1 in the series.

The final score at Chase Center: Rockets 115, Warriors 107.

Series Context: The Road to Game 6

This pivotal Game 6 showdown is just one chapter in what has become a wild first-round playoff story. The Warriors initially dominated, building a 3-1 series lead that seemed insurmountable. Game 1 set the tone with Golden State’s disciplined execution, which we analyzed in detail in our previous statistical breakdown, showing how Curry’s efficient 32-point performance and Thompson’s defensive containment of VanVleet established the early series dynamics.

But Houston has shown remarkable toughness, first with their Game 5 explosion (131-108) that featured VanVleet beginning his three-game shooting surge, and now with this pressure-packed Game 6 performance. The stats have shifted dramatically from the early games where the Warriors controlled tempo and shooting efficiency.

This back-and-forth battle between two Western Conference contenders now comes down to a winner-take-all Game 7 with a second-round matchup against Minnesota awaiting the victor.

Team Statistical Comparison

Here’s how the two Western Conference rivals matched up statistically in this pivotal playoff game:

Category	Houston Rockets	Golden State Warriors
Field Goal %	44.9% (35/78)	41.1% (37/90)
3-Point %	40.0% (12/30)	30.6% (15/49)
Free Throws	71.7% (33/46)	81.8% (18/22)
Rebounds	46 (11 offensive)	42 (13 offensive)
Assists	23	26
Turnovers	13	17
Personal Fouls	18	30

The free throw disparity jumps off the page. Golden State committed 30 personal fouls, allowing Houston to attempt 46 free throws compared to just 22 for the Warriors. This 24-attempt difference resulted in a +15 point advantage for Houston from the charity stripe.

Rockets Player Stats: The VanVleet Show

Fred VanVleet’s Playoff Masterclass

Fred VanVleet ran the Rockets’ offense like a true floor general:

• 29 points on remarkable shooting efficiency
• 7/13 field goals (53.8%)
• 6/9 from three-point territory (66.7%)
• Perfect 9/9 from the free-throw line
• 8 rebounds (impressive for a guard)
• 8 assists against just 2 turnovers (4:1 ratio)
• +12 plus/minus rating (the Rockets outscored the Warriors by 12 points during VanVleet’s minutes on the floor)

His scoring across the playoff series shows his growing confidence:

• Game 4: 25 points (8/13 FG, 8/12 3PT)
• Game 5: 26 points (8/13 FG, 4/6 3PT)
• Game 6: 29 points (7/13 FG, 6/9 3PT)

The veteran guard has now connected on an astonishing 18 of his last 27 three-point attempts (66.7%) across these three critical Western Conference playoff games.

In his post-game interview with ESPN, VanVleet credited “ultimate focus” for the team’s performance, noting: “We knew what was at stake. Nobody wanted to go home tonight. We’ve been locked in since going down 3-1, and that focus carried us tonight when things got tight.”

Alperen Şengün’s Glass Cleaning

Alperen Şengün dominated the boards:

• 21 points
• 14 rebounds (11 defensive)
• 6 assists
• 3 steals
• 8/20 FG (40.0%)

While his shooting percentage wasn’t stellar, those 11 defensive rebounds were crucial in limiting Warriors second chances, especially given the Warriors missed 34 three-point attempts.

Şengün’s rebounding ability aligns with his regular season average of 10.3 rebounds per game, but his playoff intensity has pushed that figure to 11.5 rebounds per game throughout this first-round series.

Steven Adams: The Unexpected X-Factor

Steven Adams came off the bench to provide a game-changing interior presence:

• 17 points on perfect 4/4 shooting from the field
• 5 rebounds (3 offensive) in just 31 minutes
• 3 critical blocks that altered Warriors’ offensive rhythm
• Zero turnovers despite physical play
• Team-best +15 plus/minus rating
• 9/16 on free throws after Warriors resorted to “Hack-a-Adams” tactics

The veteran center’s impact was so notable that Golden State abandoned their normal defensive approach, resorting to intentional fouls as documented in the detailed AP News playoff report. Despite Adams’ mediocre free throw percentage, the strategy backfired as Houston still scored efficiently during this stretch.

“They tried to use the Hack-a-Adams strategy, but we actually secured some offensive rebounds off his misses,” noted Houston’s coach. “Sometimes those desperate measures backfire.”

Warriors Player Stats: Stars Struggle

Stephen Curry’s Volume Scoring

Curry led the Warriors with 29 points but lacked his usual efficiency:

• 9/23 FG (39.1%)
• 6/16 3PT (37.5%)
• 5/6 FT (83.3%)
• 7 rebounds
• 2 assists
• 2 steals
• Team high 5 turnovers
• -11 plus/minus rating (Warriors were outscored by 11 points with Curry on the floor)

Those 5 turnovers badly disrupted Golden State’s offensive flow, with several coming at crucial moments in the fourth quarter collapse.

A visibly frustrated Curry acknowledged after the game: “We had control heading into the fourth, and then everything fell apart. That’s on me as a leader to keep us organized when things get tough.”

Jimmy Butler’s All-Around Game

Butler filled the stat sheet despite the loss:

• 27 points
• 7/17 FG (41.2%)
• 1/6 3PT (16.7%)
• 12/14 FT (85.7%)
• 9 rebounds
• 8 assists
• Only 1 turnover
• -12 plus/minus

His 8:1 assist-to-turnover ratio showed his steady playmaking throughout the playoff contest.

Draymond Green’s Mixed Contribution

Green had moments of impact but costly mistakes:

• 8 points
• 3/8 FG (37.5%)
• 5 rebounds
• 7 assists
• 3 blocks
• 4 turnovers
• Flagrant-1 foul early in the game
• -8 plus/minus

That flagrant foul on Jalen Green gave Houston free points and possession, creating a tone of frustration that ran through the Warriors’ performance throughout this Western Conference playoff game.

Fourth Quarter Collapse: Warriors’ Fatal Drought

The fourth quarter showed exactly why Houston is heading home with series life:

• Houston outscored Golden State 29-23 in the crucial final quarter
• Warriors had closed to just 86-84 entering the fourth, riding Curry’s late third-quarter surge
• VanVleet’s four-point play to open the quarter immediately shifted momentum
• Golden State then went through a brutal scoring drought, missing 13 consecutive field goal attempts spanning 6 minutes and 37 seconds
• This offensive meltdown started with Draymond Green’s basket at 10:12 and didn’t end until Curry connected at the 3:35 mark

In the detailed Al Jazeera playoff coverage, both Warriors coach Steve Kerr and Draymond Green specifically pointed to VanVleet’s clutch four-point play as the game-changing moment.

The atmosphere in Chase Center changed completely during this stretch. The once-raucous crowd grew quieter with each missed Warriors shot, their anxiety clearly felt throughout the arena. By the time Curry finally broke the drought, the mood had totally shifted. What had been a building ready to celebrate a series victory just minutes earlier now felt like a stunned gathering watching a collapse no one expected in this first-round playoff battle.

Game 7 Key Factors

The stats from Game 6 highlight important storylines heading into the decisive Game 7 of this Western Conference first-round series:

Key Houston Questions:

• Can VanVleet maintain his red-hot three-point shooting (66.7% over the last three games) for a third consecutive playoff game?
• Will coach Udoka continue giving Adams extended minutes (31 minutes in Game 6 versus his regular season average) after his huge impact?
• Can the Rockets generate another massive free throw disparity (46 attempts vs 22) now playing on their home court?
• Will Şengün continue his rebounding dominance (averaging 11.5 RPG in the series)?

Golden State Adjustments Needed:

• Can Curry rediscover his efficient scoring touch after shooting just 39.1% in Game 6?
• Will the Warriors solve their turnover issues (17 team turnovers with 5 from Curry alone)?
• What defensive adjustments will Kerr implement against VanVleet’s perimeter shooting?
• How will they counter Adams’ interior presence without resorting to intentional fouls?

According to the comprehensive Fox Sports playoff preview, the winner advances to face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Semifinals.

Game 7 Prediction

Looking at the momentum swings throughout this Western Conference first-round series, Houston appears ready to complete their comeback from a 3-1 deficit.

VanVleet’s shooting touch shows no signs of cooling, and the Rockets have found a winning formula with Adams’ increased minutes. Playing on their home court at Toyota Center should further energize Houston’s attack while maintaining their free throw advantage.

Golden State’s fourth quarter collapse revealed deep issues with execution under pressure, a surprising weakness for a team with championship history. Unless Curry can rediscover his efficiency and the supporting cast elevates their performance, the Warriors face an uphill battle.

Prediction: Rockets 118, Warriors 109

Key Takeaways from Game 6

1. VanVleet’s Elite Performance: His 29 points on efficient shooting, combined with 8 rebounds and 8 assists, provided the steadying presence Houston needed in a hostile playoff environment.
2. Warriors’ Fourth Quarter Collapse: Golden State’s 13 consecutive missed field goals during a critical 6:37 stretch sealed their fate after entering the quarter down just two points.
3. Adams’ Unexpected Impact: Steven Adams provided 17 points on perfect shooting with crucial defensive stops, forcing Golden State into a failed Hack-a-Adams strategy.
4. Free Throw Disparity: Houston attempted 24 more free throws (46 vs 22), highlighting their aggressive attacking style and Golden State’s defensive struggles.
5. Series Momentum Shift: After falling behind 3-1, Houston has now won consecutive games with improving offensive efficiency, suggesting they’ve found key adjustments that Golden State hasn’t countered.

FAQs: Golden State Warriors vs Houston Rockets Match Player Stats

The Golden State Warriors vs Houston Rockets match player stats tell the story of how VanVleet’s clutch shooting, Adams’ unexpected interior dominance, and the Warriors’ fourth-quarter drought have set the stage for what will be a thrilling Game 7 in this Western Conference first-round playoff series.