[wh] Kiwi Adams plays crucial role in Rockets' NBA playoff upset over Warriors
Steven Adams logged season-high minutes and points in Houston's win. Photo: AFP
Kiwi centre Steven Adams has produced his best scoring performance of the NBA season to help the Houston Rockets upset Golden State Warriors 115-107 in San Francisco, forcing a seventh and deciding game in the Western Conference playoffs.
Second-seeded Houston lost home advantage in the series when they dropped the opener at the Toyota Center two weeks ago and have twice staved off elimination in their past two outings.
In the sixth game, they trailed for just a few seconds in the opening quarter and led by as many as 17 with 4m 40s remaining in the fourth, as they used Adams extensively throughout.
The veteran missed the entire 2023/24 season with a knee injury and was nursed through the current campaign, as the Rockets saved him for the post-season.
He sat out back-to-back games and averaged less than 14 minutes - a career low - in the 58 games he suited up for.
Towards the end of the regular season, coach Ime Udoka began experimenting with both Adams and Turkish centre Alperen Sengun in his line-up, and relied heavily on that combination, with their playoff hopes on the line against the Warriors.
Adams logged 31 minutes, including all but a few minutes of the second half, and scored 17 points - both season highs - grabbing five rebounds (including three offensive boards), three blocks and a steal.
In an effort to whittle away at the Rockets lead, Golden State elected to deliberately and repeatedly foul Adams, sending him to the free-throw line and hoping his wayward shooting would let them back into the contest.
He converted 9/16 from the stripe, but more than made up for any offensive deficiencies with his work at the heart of Houston's zone defence that restricted superstar Steph Curry to 29 points off 9/24 shooting (6/16 from three-point).
Houston scored 12 unanswered points in the final period, while Curry shot 1/7 from the field down the stretch.
Point guard Fred Van Vleet led the Rockets with 29 points, including 6/9 from the arc, while Sengun compiled a 21 points/14 rebounds double-double. Jimmy Butler had 27 points for the Warriors.
"Full team contribution," Udoka observed.
"Some had off nights, others stepped up.
"Obviously, Steven was big, when Alpie got some fouls, and knocking down those free throws and doing what he does defensively.
"It all helps, but good to have some vets as well."
Houston has one of the youngest rosters in the NBA, anchored by Van Vleet - who previously won a championship with Toronto Raptors - Adams and former Memphis Grizzlies teammate Dillon Brooks.
Despite his limited involvement, Adams was voted runner-up to Curry as NBA Teammate of the Year and achieved the best-ever offensive-rebounding percentage for a season.
After a breakthrough 52-30 season, the Rockets can now progress to a second-round meeting with the Minnesota Timberwolves with victory at home on Monday (NZ time).
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