The Warriors were just one game away from their 1st round win when they entered Chase Center with a convincing 3-1 lead. But Fred VanVleet-led Rockets had some other plans, as they not only defeated the Warriors at their home, but they are now just a win away from handing the biggest upset of the season. Now, while VanVleet’s mission is to “just make everything tough” for the Dubs, a private exchange between Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler may turn things around for the Warriors in Game 7.

During Game 5 at Toyota Center, Green and Butler—unsurprisingly, the two most vocal guys of the squad—were seen having an intricate conversation on the sidelines. The details of that conversation are best known to Green and Butler only, but after the defeat in Houston, the 2025 DPOY finalist had a cheeky response, saying, “You’ll tell me after the next game” when asked about whether his conversations with Jimmy unraveled any key insights. Well, we are already past Game 6 now, so what did those conversations translate into?

On Friday, the Warriors entered Chase Center with only one mindset: get the job done in Game 6. But despite Green and Butler being confident enough, the Steph Curry-led team fell short of VanVleet’s brilliance, who stole the show with 29 points. Even though the Rockets now have the advantage with two consecutive wins, VanVleet knows what the 7x champions are capable of. “Obviously, we know what they bring to the table,” the Rockets’ guard said. “So just make everything tough. Contest everything.” But what about the often outspoken Green?

Unsurprisingly, the Warriors’ power forward admitted how good the Rockets were and especially VanVleet.“No, I’m not surprised one bit,” Green said. “Fred VanVleet is the reason we lost to Toronto in the Finals, so we know what he’s capable of. Not surprised at all.” Now, with Game 7 to be played in Houston, the only question that remains is, will Green, Butler, and Curry be able to turn it around at Toyota Center?

Well, Game 5 was just the beginning of how difficult the Rockets can be on their day, especially with their cutthroat rivalry with the Dubs. They seemed energetic, playing with great vigor and being clinical as a team defensively. Three of their starters scored over 20 points and controlled the game no matter what Steve Kerr and the Warriors threw at them.

So even though the Warriors are just one game away, it will probably be a long night at the Toyota Center when Game 7 rolls around in a few days. Not only will the Rockets be confident to eliminate the championship favorite, but also send a strong message to their opponents. Meanwhile, the Warriors may have to be worried about Steph’s health as they prepare for Game 7.

Health isn’t siding with the Warriors

A few concerning visuals emerged before Game 5. Specifically, a picture of Stephen Curry made the rounds. The thumb of his shooting hand looked swollen, almost like a bubble ready to burst. Throughout the game, he opted to wear a protective wrap. The Chef, who seemed unstoppable in the first three games, began to show a few signs of struggling.

He only scored 13 in Game 5, leaving people wondering whether the thumb is bothering his performance. “No, not at all,” he told the curious reporters. It’s merely a niggle, it turns out. However, mentally, Stephen Curry has prepared himself to withstand the pain. “It’s something you are dealing with and you keep it moving as long as I can play. It’s got a wrap for a reason. So that’s it,” he further added.

However, while Curry’s injury isn’t as concerning, who scored 29 points in Game 6, the series flipped on its head when Jimmy Butler landed awkwardly on his hip. The former Heat forward missed a game, but on his return was incredible. For fans, Butler has a credible reason to underperform, playing through pain. But for the obsessive competitor, if he is on the hardwood, he won’t give any excuses.

“It’s getting there. You know, another day and some change of recovery and rest but that’s no excuse for how I played. How we played as a whole. Like I always say, if anybody takes that floor, you expect them to go out there and produce. More than anything, you are expected to go out there and win,” he said about their performance.

That seems to be the mindset of every player within the Warriors locker room. Tonight, they weren’t close to their best selves. However, they have already manifested how they want to play at home to close out the series. But the Rockets aren’t going to go down without a fight.