Mon May 05 05:51:58 UTC 2025: ## Warriors Advance to Second Round After Hield’s Exploits; Pacers Upset Cavaliers
**Oakland, CA & Cleveland, OH** – Buddy Hield’s phenomenal 33-point performance, fueled by nine 3-pointers, led the Golden State Warriors to a decisive 103-89 Game 7 victory over the Houston Rockets, securing their place in the Western Conference Semifinals. Stephen Curry added 22 points, with 14 coming in a crucial fourth quarter surge. The Warriors will face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the next round.
Hield’s exceptional shooting, including six 3-pointers in the first half alone, propelled the Warriors to a commanding lead. While the Rockets, led by Amen Thompson’s 24 points and Alperen Sengun’s 21 points and 14 rebounds, mounted a comeback attempt, they couldn’t overcome Hield’s firepower and Curry’s late-game dominance. Coach Steve Kerr praised Hield’s performance and the team’s overall resilience after overcoming a 3-1 deficit.
Meanwhile, in a stunning upset, the Indiana Pacers defeated the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers 121-112 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Semifinals series. Andrew Nembhard led the Pacers with 23 points, hitting five 3-pointers, while Tyrese Haliburton contributed 22 points and 13 assists. Six Pacers players scored in double figures.
Despite Donovan Mitchell’s 33 points for the Cavaliers and a strong performance from Evan Mobley (20 points, 10 rebounds), the Cavaliers struggled in the absence of injured All-Star point guard Darius Garland. The Pacers’ strong start and ability to withstand a late Cavaliers rally, fueled by a 15-4 fourth-quarter run, proved decisive. Haliburton highlighted the Pacers’ success in getting stops, running effectively, and playing their signature style. The series now shifts to Indiana.
First Piper 