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NBA: 'Grandpa' Green's recipe for GSW win - hit, kick, choke & provoke
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Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 29.04.25. | 11:34
In a match full of tension, the Warriors defended the home court against the Houston Rockets, taking a 3-1 lead in the series
When NBA playoffs bring a clash between seed #2 and seed #7, the former have to be favourites. However, when the better-seeded team are the young and inexperienced Houston Rockets facing the "cunning old hands" Golden State Warriors, the tables immediately turn.
The crew from California and Texas gave NBA fans a proper throwback to the 2018 Western Conference Finals, when the Warriors, with Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, and Kevin Durant, knocked out the Rockets, led by James Harden and Chris Paul, 4-3 in the series.
Those clashes were full of tension and pressure and last night's duel wasn't much different, as Steve Kerr's men defended the home court (109-106) and took a 3-1 lead in the series, despite being the initial "underdogs."
Even though Jimmy Butler led the Warriors with 27 points, Green was once again the key factor, as he fought mercilessly against much younger rivals, particularly Dillon Brooks. The 35-year-old hit, kicked, choked, and provoked the opponents, and in the end it paid off.
DILLON BROOKS VS DRAYMOND GREEN 🔥 pic.twitter.com/wPGAqaGHiJ
— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) April 29, 2025
On the other hand, Alperen Sengun (31 points, 10 rebounds) and Fred VanVleet (25 points) were the best in Ime Udoka's crew.
The next (and possibly final) clash will be played on Thursday (02.30) at Toyota Center in Houston.
Elsewhere, the Cleveland Cavaliers destroyed the Heat in Miami 138-83, sweeping Erik Spoelstra's men in the first round of playoffs. Interestingly, the Cavs were only three points short of the most convincing playoff triumph ever, as the Denver Nuggets currently hold the record, having beaten the New Orleans Pelicans 121-63 in 2009.
NBA PLAYOFFS
Western Conference
Tuesday
Golden State Warriors - Houston Rockets 109-106
/Butler 27 - Sengun 31/
Golden State lead 3-1 in the series
Wednesday
05:00: (2.25) Denver (12.5) LA Clippers (1.80)
Eastern Conference
Tuesday
Miami Heat - Cleveland Cavaliers 83-138
/Jovic 24 - Mitchell 22/
Cleveland win the series 4-0
Wednesday
00:55: (1.35) Indiana (14.0) Milwaukee (3.70)
02:30: (1.50) New York (13.0) Detroit (2.95)
03:30: (1.17) Boston (20.0) Orlando (5.50)
***odds are subject to change***
