The NBA Playoffs are delivering the ultimate drama as the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors prepare for a decisive Game 7 showdown on Sunday, May 4. What seemed improbable just days ago has become reality as the Rockets have battled back from a 3-1 series deficit to force a winner-take-all contest at Toyota Center.
Houston's resilience has transformed this second-round matchup into an instant classic. After falling behind 3-1 in the series, the second-seeded Rockets orchestrated a remarkable turnaround with a commanding victory in Game 5 followed by a clutch fourth-quarter performance in Game 6.
The most recent encounter saw both teams locked in a tight battle through three quarters before Houston's defense made the difference down the stretch. The Rockets' smothering defensive scheme limited Golden State to just 41.1 percent shooting from the field and a mere 30.6 percent from beyond the arc. The Warriors' starters showed visible fatigue in the final frame, despite strong individual performances from Stephen Curry (29 points) and Jimmy Butler (27 points), who each logged 42 minutes of playing time.
With momentum firmly on their side, Houston now has the opportunity to become just the 14th team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 playoff deficit. According to data from Statbet, comebacks of this magnitude have a success rate of less than 10% historically in playoff scenarios, highlighting just how remarkable the Rockets' resurgence has been.
The last time fans witnessed such a dramatic playoff reversal was during the 2020 NBA bubble when the Denver Nuggets accomplished the feat twice in the same postseason—overcoming 3-1 deficits against both the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers.
For the seventh-seeded Warriors, who appeared to have the series firmly in control after Game 4, Sunday represents a chance to regroup and reclaim their early series dominance. The pressure now shifts to Golden State to avoid becoming the latest victim of a historic playoff collapse.
Fans can catch all the action live from Toyota Center at 8:30 p.m. ET on TNT and truTV, with radio coverage available on SiriusXM. As both teams prepare for what promises to be an electric atmosphere in Houston, basketball enthusiasts are guaranteed the two most exciting words in sports: Game 7.
