The advantage did lie with the Houston Rockets as they played Game 7 on their home turf. But there’s no substitute for experience. The Golden State Warriors held their nerves and comfortably put down the Rockets in the win-or-go-home matchup. Major contributions from Buddy Hield and clutch buckets from both Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler sealed a spot in the second round against the Minnesota Timberwolves. And after the game, the celebrations were wholesome.

After some celebration with his teammates, Curry spotted a familiar face in the crowd. He went over Shaunie Henderson, Shaquille O’Neal’s ex-wife. The producer, who now resides in Houston with her pastor husband Keion Henderson, couldn’t miss the pulsating action that Game 7 promised to be. While it didn’t exactly deliver, her appearance didn’t go to waste.

Following the win, Stephen Curry made his way over to greet Shaunie Henderson, the former Basketball Wives star. The brief exchange ended with smiles and a shared moment before the Chef headed toward the tunnel to celebrate a crucial victory.

Shaunie, sporting a stylish blue jacket, radiated effortless grace and managed to steal a bit of the spotlight herself. In a lighthearted moment, she and Curry were seen pointing toward something in the arena—possibly referencing something meaningful—before the Warriors’ star exited the court after another standout performance at the Toyota Center.

Clearly, things are all good now between the Currys and Shaunie Henderson. But for those who don’t remember, there was some past tension. During an appearance on The Preachers, Shaunie publicly criticized Ayesha Curry for her viral 2016 tweet calling the NBA “rigged” after Steph fouled out in Game 6 of the Finals. At the time, Shaunie felt the comment was inappropriate, warning it could undermine the integrity of the league and the livelihoods of those tied to it—including her own husband’s career.

She urged Ayesha to be “smarter” with her words. To Ayesha’s credit, she’s kept things more low-key since then, avoiding similar controversies—and clearly, there’s no bad blood today, as Steph and Shaunie were all smiles courtside after the Warriors’ big win.

Against all odds, the Warriors suffocated the Rockets, flipping the script from games 5 and 6. Stephen Curry though, had to battle a slump to start the game. He only scored 3 points in the first half. But when it mattered most, he turned up. Curry splashed 14 points in the breakaway fourth quarter to vanquish the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center.

The Warriors’ hot streak since acquiring Jimmy Butler has now proven to be greatly effective during the biggest part of the season. But the elusive price is still a far way from the Warriors’ grasp. An equally hard matchup against the Timberwolves is up next. And while Curry is the greatest shooter the NBA has seen, Edwards not only led the league in three-point scoring, but he desperately wants to get the better of another pioneer of the game.

Stephen Curry and the Warriors give the ‘night night’ to the Rockets

Curry served as an architect to bury the Houston Rockets just when they seemed close to getting back in the game. After a lackadaisical first quarter, the home team managed to cut the deficit to eight points by the end of the third. Amen Thompson was sensational, scoring 24 points and showing no nervousness in his first Game 7 experience.

However, the Warriors had other tools. The Rockets just couldn’t find any.

As their offense slowed down in the final quarter, the Warriors put on a clinic. Aside from Curry, the plaudits went to Buddy Hield for his electric performance. He led the game in scoring, compiling 33 points, including 22 in the first half. After going scoreless in Game 6, Hield connected on 9 three-pointers, tying the record for a Game 7.

The Warriors’ offense was collectively great in their display against the Rockets. They shot 47.6% from the floor and 41.9% from three. They also took an 18-6 lead in three-pointers, led by Hield’s flurry.

To underscore just how hot Buddy Hield was in Game 7—he didn’t just tie the playoff record for most three-pointers in a Game 7, he outshot the entire Rockets team from beyond the arc by himself. Known more for his shooting than his defense, Hield flipped the script on both ends. He hustled for rebounds, dove for loose balls, and made life difficult for Fred VanVleet. One of the game’s turning points came when Hield forced a crucial fourth-quarter turnover, which directly led to a pair of free throws that helped seal the Warriors’ fate.

After a disastrous few games, a performance like this will help immensely in boosting the Warriors’ confidence. They won against a superior opponent even after their weaknesses were exposed. Now, the focus shifts onto an opponent that has been resting and watching. The Timberwolves, led by a charismatic Anthony Edwards, took just five games to dismiss the third-seeded Lakers.

During the regular season, the Warriors won three of their four matchups against the Timberwolves. But in the playoffs, those numbers don’t matter. It’s all about who can rise to the occasion. And with the way these two teams are built, there are plenty of stars who could dictate the outcome of this series.