Dub Hub: Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler praise Buddy Hield’s epic Game 7 performance

Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Monday, May 5th.

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler praise Buddy Hield’s epic 33-point performance to close out the Rockets in Game 7.
• Steph Curry calls Houston’s defense “one of the toughest“ he’s ever had to play against.
• Lakers’ LeBron James suffered Grade 2 MCL sprain in Game 5 against the Timberwolves.

“That’s what the game called for, and he answered it.”

That’s how Stephen Curry put it after the Golden State Warriors closed out the Houston Rockets with a 103-89 Game 7 victory on Sunday night, surviving the first round of the NBA Playoffs behind a historic performance from their sharpshooting sixth man, Buddy Hield. Hield dropped 22 points in the first half alone and finished with a game-high 33 points on nine made threes—tied for the most in Game 7 history.

After the game, Hield credited a meeting led by the team’s veteran core for getting him locked in on Sunday night.

Curry was the next highest scorer with 22 points—14 of which came in the fourth quarter. Despite struggling early, he stayed active throughout the night, filling the box score with 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. Still, Curry praised Hield for his timely scoring keeping the Warriors afloat in Game 7.

And yes, Jimmy Butler took notice too. Although he had 20 points, he couldn’t help but acknowledge his best frenemy’s big-time performance.

The Warriors now turn their attention to the Western Conference Semifinals, with Game 1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves tipping off Tuesday night in Minneapolis.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Monday, May 5th:

Warriors News:

In Warriors’ Game 7 win, Buddy Hield was the emphatic answer they needed | The Athletic

Was this his greatest game ever?

“Ask Dillon Brooks,” Hield said, smiling.

This, clearly, wasn’t the first time Brooks has been on the receiving end of a Hield explosion. Hield was hearkening back nine years to March 2016, when he put up 37 for the Oklahoma Sooners in the Elite Eight, knocking off Oregon, featuring Brooks, to earn a spot in the Final Four.

“I told him,” Hield said, clasping on his several diamond link chains, this one with a diamond-encrusted No. 7 medallion, “‘I sent you home. I’ma send you home again.’”

Draymond Green controls emotions and defense to beat Rockets. Can he keep it up? | The Athletic

Green said he changed up his pregame routine on Sunday. He went to the spa and meditated. He only listened to slow music. He wanted to enter Game 7 with a calm approach. He had a layup and two 3s in the first five minutes — part of a 16-point performance — and didn’t celebrate either jumper with his patented “Boom!” yell. He just strolled back on defense.

“I pouted way too much last game,” Green said. “I spent the last two days embarrassed at what I gave to the game, what I gave to the world.”

Steph Curry calls Rockets’ defense ‘one of the toughest’ he’s ever faced

Draymond Green on winning another series in Houston: “This ain’t that team, but it’s that organization though”

Steph Curry on his reputation in Houston: “I’m a winner”

NBA News:

Source: Lakers’ LeBron James suffered MCL sprain in Game 5 | ESPN

Even if the Los Angeles Lakers had been able to extend their first-round series with a win against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Wednesday’s Game 5, they would have had their work cut out for the rest of the series — and the playoffs.

An MRI on Thursday revealed that Lakers star LeBron James suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee in the fourth quarter of Game 5, a league source told ESPN on Friday.

The injury entails a three-to-five-week recommended recovery timeline, the source told ESPN.

10 things we learned from the 1st round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs | NBA

4. Thompson twins are on track

They are double trouble, or at least will be soon enough. Amen and Ausar Thompson are done for the season, but these 21-year-olds fit right in with the intensity of the playoffs with the Rockets and Pistons, respectively. The lights weren’t too bright, but the future is.

Amen Thompson was impactful on both ends against the Warriors until he was slowed late in Game 7 by a calf strain. The Knicks’ Jalen Brunson victimized Ausar Thompson on the series-winning shot, but afterward Brunson saluted him — “he’s big time” — and Thompson shut Brunson down in Game 5 (4-16 shooting).

Conference Semifinals bracket now set after the conclusion of this weekend’s First Round

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Player grades: Warriors vs. Rockets Game 7

Kevon Looney

11 minutes, 3 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block, 2 fouls, 1-for-2 shooting, 1-for-2 free throws, 52.1% TS, 0 +/-

Kerr also said after Game 6 that Looney was likely to play more, given how much trust they have in him. And that trust was rewarded. Looney was rock solid, helping stabilize the glass and the interior defense. He was also the only Warriors bench player to score, which is pretty wild.

Grade: B+

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