VanVleet leads Rockets back from 3-1 deficit and into deciding Game 7 against Warriors

HOUSTON (AP) — Fred VanVleet combined for 55 points in the last two games to lead the Houston Rockets back from a 3-1 deficit and force a deciding Game 7 against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night at home in their first-round playoff series.

Now the question becomes if Postseason Fred and these scrappy, young Rockets can win a third straight game to finally vanquish longtime playoff nemesis Stephen Curry and Co. and advance to face Minnesota in the Western Conference semifinals.

After making just 6 of 29 3-pointers in the first three games of the series, VanVleet has gone 18 for 27 in the last three. He’s led the Rockets in scoring three times this postseason after doing so just eight times in the entire regular season.

The 31-year-old had his best game yet Friday night, scoring 29 points with eight rebounds and eight assists to lead Houston to the 115-107 victory to extend the series once again.

VanVleet, who helped the Raptors beat the Warriors for the title in 2019, is ready for the challenge of Game 7.

“It’s going to take everybody. It’s not really just about me,” he said. “As a guy that’s been there, we have enough to get it done, it’s just a matter of can we play at a high enough level all at the same time? We’ve been able to do that over the last couple games, but we’ve got to stay focused and do it one more time.”

For most of the Rockets, who are in the postseason for the first time since 2020, this will be their first Game 7. Things are very different for the Warriors, who have loads of experience in such contests.

Seven Warriors have played in a Game 7, led by Curry and Draymond Green, who have been in five apiece. Curry has averaged 32.6 points in those games, highlighted by a 50-point outing to down Sacramento in 2023.

Curry said things change when you get into elimination games in the playoffs.

“It’s not just the points on the board, it’s the feeling, it’s the vibe, morale, momentum,” he said. “You got to dig deep to win these type of games. Thankfully we have another opportunity to go do it. We’re very confident that we can go do it.”

The Warriors are playing their fifth Game 7 since 2015 and have gone 3-1 in the previous four. It’s the fifth time they’re playing Houston in the postseason and have won each of the first four meetings.

One of those series wins came in a Game 7 in Houston when Curry had 27 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds in the 101-92 victory in 2018 that sent Golden State to its fourth straight NBA Finals.

Houston missed 27 straight 3-pointers in that game in an epic collapse that still haunts Rockets fans, though no player on the current roster was part of that team.

When/Where to Watch: Game 7, Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET, TNT

Series: Tied 3-3

BetMGM Sportsbook: Rockets by 2.5.

What to Know: The Rockets have a chance to become the 14th team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 deficit in a best-of-seven series. Houston has done it twice, most recently in the 2015 conference semifinals against the Clippers. The Warriors were on the wrong end of such a comeback, losing the 2016 NBA Finals to LeBron James and Cleveland after having a 3-1 advantage. … Steven Adams has been a wild card in this series for the Rockets as coach Ime Udoka has employed his double big lineup with Alperen Sengun. Adams, who averaged just 13.7 minutes a game during the regular season, played 31 minutes in Game 6 to help Houston win. He had a season-high 17 points in his most minutes since 2023 as Golden State coach Steve Kerr employed the Hack-a-Shaq tactic of fouling him to slow down the Rockets. Adams, a career 53% free-throw shooter, was 9 of 16 from the line Friday night. He leads the Rockets with 21 offensive rebounds and eight blocks in this series. … Green was miffed that the Rockets seemed to come up with most loose balls in Game 6. He was asked why he thinks that was the case. “It can be due to whatever,” he said. “The reality is the person who wants the ball more will get it. Right now, seems like they want it more.” … Kerr is looking for his team to focus on ball security after Golden State has averaged 15 turnovers in its three losses in the series. “We’re in a rush,” he said. “We got to slow down a little bit.”

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Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson (1) shoots between Golden State Warriors center Quinten Post (21) and guard Stephen Curry (30) during the second half of Game 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, May 2, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) passes to Rockets forward Amen Thompson (1) while guarded by Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) in the fourth quarter of Game 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, May 2, 2025, in San Francisco. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler III head to the bench in fourth quarter of Game 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, May 2, 2025, in San Francisco. (Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry reacts after making a 3-point basket during the second half of Game 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets, Friday, May 2, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Houston Rockets center Steven Adams (12) dunks in front of Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green during the second half of Game 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, May 2, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Houston Rockets' bench celebrates Fred VanVleet's three-pointer and a foul in fourth quarter of Game 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, May 2, 2025, in San Francisco. (Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry (30) is fouled by Houston Rockets' Fred VanVleet, right, in the first quarter of Game 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, May 2, 2025, in San Francisco. (Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (5) is hugged by center Alperen Sengun after the team's victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, May 2, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Erling Haaland continues to motor along at better than a goal a game for Manchester City in the Premier League.

His latest victim was West Ham on Saturday.

The Norway striker scored in each half to move to 19 goals in 17 matches in this campaign and also set up Tijjani Reijnders' goal in a 3-0 win at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

The victory lifted City into first place, a point ahead of Arsenal before the deposed leader's match at Everton later Saturday.

Haaland has 38 goals in a combined 28 games for club and country in what is shaping up to be the most prolific season of his career. Injury permitting, the season will end in him going to his first World Cup with Norway.

His double gave him 104 in the Premier League, one more than Cristiano Ronaldo having played 122 games fewer.

Haaland scored at the second attempt from Phil Foden's cross to give City a fifth-minute lead and took advantage of a defensive mix-up to make it 3-0 in the 69th. In between, Haaland slipped a short pass to Reijnders, who took a touch and rifled a shot into the roof of the net in the 38th.

What a difference a week made for Nick Woltemade.

Last weekend, he scored an own-goal to consign Newcastle to a derby loss at fierce rival Sunderland. Six days later, he netted twice in the opening 20 minutes to give his team a fast start against Chelsea.

Chelsea recovered, though, to draw 2-2 with Joao Pedro’s equalizer coming off a rare assist from a goalkeeper.

Robert Sanchez smashed a long clearance up to Pedro, who headed the ball forward and ended up collecting it himself after Fabian Schar slipped. Pedro slotted a finish underneath Newcastle goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale to earn Chelsea a point in the 66th.

“I wanted to give a good performance today and I think I did,” Woltemade said. "I just want to say thank you to the fans for still being good with me.”

Reece James launched Chelsea’s fightback by curling a free kick in off the post after halftime.

Chelsea stayed in fourth place and has won only one of its last five games in the league. Newcastle, one of England's representatives in the Champions League this season, is languishing in midtable after one win in its last four games — and that was against next-to-last Burnley.

Last-placed Wolverhampton remained without a win and on just two points after losing at home to Brentford 2-0.

The latest defeat meant Wolves tied Sheffield United’s 2020-21 record of 17 games without a win from the start of a Premier League season.

Keane Lewis-Potter scored both of Brentford's goals in the second half.

Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo is reportedly a target of some of the Premier League's biggest teams, including Man City and Manchester United.

He underlined his worth by curling home his team's goal in a 1-1 draw with Burnley, which ended its seven-match losing run on its tough return to the top flight. Armando Broja grabbed Burnley's equalizer in the 90th.

Sunderland is doing much better since promotion. A 0-0 draw at Brighton put the north-east team in fifth place.

There are three more games to be played on Saturday: Tottenham vs. Liverpool, followed by Everton vs. Arsenal and Leeds vs. Crystal Palace.

Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Manchester City's Erling Haaland, left, gestures to teammates Manchester City's Rico Lewis, as he celebrates after scoring his sides third goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and West Ham United in Manchester, England, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester City's Erling Haaland reacts after missing a chance to score a goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and West Ham United in Manchester, England, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Newcastle's Nick Woltemade, right, scores the opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and FC Chelsea in Newcastle, England, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)

Chelsea's Joao Pedro celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and FC Chelsea in Newcastle, England, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)

Chelsea's Joao Pedro, left, scores his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and FC Chelsea in Newcastle, England, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)

Newcastle's Nick Woltemade celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and FC Chelsea in Newcastle, England, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)