The Golden State Warriors secured the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference playoffs by defeating the Memphis Grizzlies in the play-in tournament with a score of 121-116. This win sets them up for a first-round series against the Houston Rockets, who finished the regular season as the No. 2 seed with a 52-30 record. The Rockets and Warriors faced each other five times during the season, with Houston winning two of the final three matchups.
The upcoming playoff series between the Rockets and Warriors will begin with Game 1 at the Toyota Center in Houston, marking the first NBA playoff game in the arena since May 2019. The Rockets, now led by a young core featuring players like Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, and Jalen Green, will take on the veteran-led Warriors, featuring stars like Steph Curry and Draymond Green, along with coach Steve Kerr. The Warriors have an impressive track record, with four NBA championships and six Western Conference titles in the past decade.