The Houston Rockets turned a corner in the 2024-25 NBA season, as they made it back to the NBA Playoffs for the first time since 2020. But their return trip to the postseason lasted just seven games, with the Rockets ultimately failing to overcome a 3-1 series deficit in the first round against the Golden State Warriors.

Golden State initially held a 3-1 lead but has since lost two straight to Houston, shifting momentum to the home side. It's the second Game 7 between the two squads: They also faced off in a Game 7 in the 2018 Western Conference finals. The Rockets lost that matchup after famously missing 27 straight 3-pointers.

The Golden State Warriors didn’t make it easy on themselves, but they are moving on to the next round of the playoffs.