Buddy Hield became an unlikely playoff hero for the Warriors, leading the team early in Game 7 against the Rockets before Stephen Curry took over late.

Curry scored 14 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, Hield made nine 3s and scored 33 points, and the Warriors advanced to the Western Conference semifinals with a 103-89 win over the Rockets on Sunday night in Houston.

“We were lucky to get out of this series,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “That was an incredibly impressive display of resolve.”

The Warriors will face the Timberwolves Tuesday night in Minneapolis.

After not scoring in Game 6, Hield had a scorching first half with six 3-pointers and 22 points to carry the Warriors to a 12-point lead, with Curry scoring just three points before the break. Then Curry took over in the closing minutes and performed his signature “night night” gesture as the Warriors put the Rockets away.

“This was not just a lights-out shooting performance for Buddy,” Kerr said. “It was a two-way performance. I thought his defense was fantastic.”

The Warriors became the seventh No. 7 seed in NBA history to advance to the semifinals and eliminated the Rockets in the playoffs for a fifth time. They sent the James Harden-led Rockets packing four times between 2015 and 2019.

Hield was 9 of 11 from 3-point range, setting an NBA record for a Game 7 and making more 3s than the Rockets, who were 6 of 18 from long range.

“Just trying to seize the moment and relish the moment and just be in the moment at the same time,” Hield said. “Just trying to be myself. But tonight was fun.”

Curry added 10 rebounds and seven assists.

Amen Thompson scored 24 points to lead the second-seeded Rockets, who forced Game 7 with two straight wins but couldn’t put away the experienced Warriors.

“We had our chances in this series,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “We all expected to continue to be playing, so it’s a letdown. It’s going to sting now, but use it as motivation and let’s all come back better.”

Down 1-0, Cavs ailing: Kenny Atkinson’s biggest concern going into the Cavaliers’ Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Pacers was trying to match up against their quick-tempo offense.

Compounding matters for Atkinson is that the Cavs might have to go into Tuesday’s Game 2 short-handed.

Forwards Evan Mobley and De’Andre Hunter have joined Darius Garland among those who questionable when the top-seeded Cavaliers try to even the series at home on Tuesday.

Mobley and Hunter were both injured in a 26-second span in the fourth quarter of what was a close game before the fourth-seeded Pacers took control and pulled away for a 121-112 victory on Sunday night.

Mobley sprained his left ankle and Hunter dislocated the thumb on his shooting hand.

Garland has missed the last three games due to a sprained left big toe. The All-Star point guard will give it a go Tuesday afternoon to see if he can return to the lineup.