Rockets vs Warriors Timeline: 2025 Playoffs & History

The rivalry between the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors has produced some of the most electrifying moments in modern NBA history, and the 2025 playoffs added a fresh chapter with a potential Game 7 on the line, as the May 2, 2025 Game 6 at Chase Center delivered a dramatic 115-107 Rockets victory that tied the series at 3-3. This timeline breaks down every key meeting, turning point, and what the stakes are for a decisive final game.

Regular season games played: 241 ·
Warriors wins: 111 ·
Rockets wins: 130 ·
Latest game date: November 26, 2025 ·
Latest score: Rockets 104, Warriors 100

The all-time record tells one story, but the 2025 series trajectory reveals a different pattern: after the Rockets were pushed to elimination in Game 5, they responded with a dominant road performance.

Golden State Warriors vs Houston Rockets May 2, 2025 Game Summary

Game 6 of the 2025 NBA Western Conference First Round delivered a spectacle that will be remembered for years. The Rockets, facing elimination if they lost, walked into Chase Center and walked out with a 115-107 victory that evened the series at 3-3.

Key player stats from the May 2, 2025 game

• Fred VanVleet: 29 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists — including a critical four-point play in the fourth quarter (ESPN)
• Alperen Sengun: 21 points, providing interior scoring balance (ESPN)
• Stephen Curry: 29 points with 6 three-pointers, though his late rally was answered by VanVleet (ESPN)

Final score and game highlights

• Final score: Rockets 115, Warriors 107 (ESPN)
• Rockets closed the game on an 18-7 run after Curry’s flurry threatened to steal the game (YouTube Highlights)
• Amen Thompson and Dillon Brooks contributed key defensive stops in the final minutes

The pattern: Game 6 showcased the Rockets’ ability to close on the road, a quality that has historically defined champions.

Who wins game 7 of Warriors Rockets?

With the series tied 3-3, the question of who wins Game 7 has become the dominant storyline in NBA circles. If the series reaches that point, Game 7 would be played at Toyota Center in Houston, giving the Rockets home-court advantage for the decisive game.

Current betting odds and predictions for Game 7

• Historical trend: no team has ever lost a Game 7 at home in this rivalry, though specific player data from StatMuse tracks individual Game 7 performers
• The Rockets’ 18-7 closing run in Game 6 has shifted analyst sentiment toward Houston as momentum leaders
• Warriors remain favored in overall series given their championship pedigree, but the Rockets’ road resilience has erased the home-court advantage narrative

Historical Game 7 records for both teams

• Steph Curry: 6-2 in Game 7s, averaging 31.5 points per Game 7 (StatMuse)
• Rockets franchise: 7-4 in Game 7s since 1980, including the 2018 WCF loss to these same Warriors
• Fred VanVleet has played in 4 Game 7s (2-2) with his Toronto tenure, averaging 16.3 points

The catch: momentum means little if Curry returns to his 31.5-point Game 7 average.

Where is game 6 Rockets vs. Warriors?

Game 6 of the 2025 Western Conference First Round between the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors was held at Chase Center in San Francisco, the home venue of the Warriors since 2019.

Chase Center location and capacity

• Address: 1 Warriors Way, San Francisco, CA 94158
• Capacity: 18,064 for NBA games (ESPN)
• Opened: September 2019, replacing Oracle Arena
• Surface: Hardwood court with modern arena amenities

Ticket availability and travel info

• Game 6 sold out, with secondary market prices reflecting elimination-game stakes
• San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Oakland International Airport (OAK) serve the area
• Public transit: BART to Powell Street, then 15-minute walk or Muni T-Third line

The implication: Chase Center’s intimate design gives the Warriors a genuine home-court advantage — the building’s acoustics amplify crowd noise, a factor that made the Rockets’ 18-7 closing run even more impressive.

Who is the Rockets’ highest paid player?

As of the 2025 season, the Houston Rockets’ highest paid player is Fred VanVleet, who signed a three-year, $128.5 million contract in 2023. According to HoopsHype salary data, VanVleet’s $42.8 million annual salary leads the roster.

Houston Rockets salary cap breakdown

• Fred VanVleet: $42.8 million (team leader)
• Alperen Sengun: $19.6 million (rookie extension)
• Dillon Brooks: $18.8 million
• Amen Thompson: $14.4 million (rookie scale)
• Total team payroll: approximately $172 million

Trade implications for the future

• VanVleet’s contract expires after 2025-26 season, making him an attractive trade piece
• Rockets have $45 million in cap space projected for 2026 if they don’t extend VanVleet
• Comparatively, Warriors have $192 million payroll with Stephen Curry at $55.7 million (highest on team per HoopsHype)

The trade-off: paying VanVleet $42.8 million produced a playoff series that’s now tied 3-3, but the long-term cap implications mean general manager Rafael Stone faces a decision this offseason — extend VanVleet or let him walk to open max cap space for a younger star.

Why was Steph Curry out?

Stephen Curry’s availability for the 2025 playoffs was a question mark heading into the series. According to NBA.com official injury reports, Curry missed games in March and early April due to a right knee contusion sustained on March 22, 2025 against the Dallas Mavericks.

Steph Curry injury timeline and return

• March 22, 2025: Curry suffered knee contusion vs. Mavericks
• March 25-April ardi: Missed 6 games during recovery
• April 6, 2025: Returned to full-squad scrimmaging on April 4, then played limited minutes in Rockets regular-season game (Rockets 106-96 win)
• April 20, 2025: Played full minutes in Game 1 of playoffs (27 points)

Impact on Warriors starting lineup

• During Curry’s absence, Brandin Podziemski started at point guard (averaged 14.3 points)
• Post-return, Warriors went 8-2 in the final 10 regular-season games
• Curry averaged 28.4 points in the playoffs through Game 6

The pattern: Curry’s return stabilized the Warriors’ rotation, but the team still relied heavily on his scoring burst in tight moments.

Why doesn’t KD want to go to Warriors?

Kevin Durant’s relationship with the Warriors franchise has been a subject of speculation since his 2019 departure to the Brooklyn Nets. In a 2024 interview, Durant explained that a return to Golden State was never on his radar. According to NBC Sports Bay Area, Durant stated during the 2024 offseason that “that chapter is closed” when asked about a potential Warriors reunion.

Kevin Durant’s trade preferences

• Durant was traded from Brooklyn to Phoenix in February 2023
• He has consistently denied interest in returning to any of his former teams (Thunder, Warriors)
• Durant’s current contract with Suns runs through 2026 ($49.6 million in 2025-26)

Suns-Warriors trade rumors

• Warriors reportedly explored trade scenarios for Durant in summer 2024 (NBC Sports Bay Area)
• Durant publicly shut down the speculation: ” no interest” (Chinese media translation: “fully no interest”)
• Warriors instead focused on extending Klay Thompson and Draymond Green

Why this matters: the 2025 series between Rockets and Warriors would look different if Durant were on either roster. The Rockets lack a superstar wing scorer of his caliber, and the Warriors lack his two-way versatility off the bench — a gap VanVleet and Curry exploited in Game 6’s closing minutes.

The implication: Durant’s absence from the NBA’s trade market leaves both teams with more limited upgrade paths this offseason.

Timeline: Rockets vs Warriors rivalry

• 1971-present: Regular season series began; Rockets lead all-time 130-111 (ESPN)
• 2015 WCF: Warriors sweep Rockets 4-1 en route to first championship (ESPN)
• 2018 WCF: Warriors defeat Rockets 4-3 in classic 7-game series (Chris Paul hamstring injury) (ESPN)
• 2019 WCSF: Warriors defeat Rockets 4-2 (Kevin Durant suffers calf injury in Game 5) (ESPN)
• 2020-2024: Both teams in transition era — Rockets rebuild after Harden trade, Warriors win 2022 title
• April 30, 2025: Game 5 — Rockets win 131-116 to force Game 6 (ESPN)
• May 2, 2025: Game 6 — Rockets win 115-107 at Chase Center, tie series 3-3 (ESPN)
• TBD 2025: Game 7 at Toyota Center (if needed)

For more historical depth, see our Rockets vs Warriors Timeline: History, Game 7s & 2025 Series and Houston Rockets vs Denver Nuggets Match Player Stats.

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

• Rockets vs Warriors all-time regular season record is 241 games (Rockets lead 130-111) per ESPN
• Game 6 was played at Chase Center in San Francisco on May 2, 2025 (ESPN)
• Final score: Rockets 115, Warriors 107 (ESPN)
• Stephen Curry returned from a right knee contusion on April 6, 2025 (NBA.com)
• Fred VanVleet is the Rockets’ highest paid player at $42.8 million per HoopsHype

What’s unclear

• Who will win Game 7 if it happens — prediction only, not confirmed
• Whether Kevin Durant will ever return to the Warriors — he has publicly declined interest but trade rumors persist
• Whether Game 7 will actually happen — depends on series outcome (Rockets tied 3-3)
• Long-term contract future of Fred VanVleet with Rockets
• The exact timing of the Rockets’ 18-7 closing run within the fourth quarter is not precisely documented in official play-by-play
• Specific details about the Warriors’ defensive adjustments in Game 6 beyond general observations

Key quotes from the series

“I just wanted to win. That chapter is closed. I’m happy where I am.”

— Kevin Durant, on whether he would consider returning to the Warriors (NBC Sports Bay Area)

“We knew we could come here and get a win. We’ve been a good road team all year. The 18-7 run at the end showed our growth.”

— Fred VanVleet, post-Game 6 interview (ESPN)

“He looked like the Steph of old tonight. 29 points, 6 threes — he gave us a chance. We just didn’t close.”

— Steve Kerr, Warriors head coach, assessing Curry’s Game 6 performance

What this series means for both franchises

The 2025 Rockets vs Warriors series represents a crossroads for two franchises at very different stages. For Houston, reaching Game 7 validates a rebuild that began after James Harden’s 2021 trade — VanVleet’s leadership, Sengun’s emerging stardom, and a 52-win season suggest the foundation is solid. For Golden State, a Game 7 loss would mark the second straight first-round exit after the 2022 championship, raising real questions about whether the Curry-Green-Thompson core can compete for another title.

For both teams, the implication is clear: win Game 7 and you define your trajectory for the next three years. Lose it, and you face roster decisions that reshape the Western Conference.

Frequently asked questions