Fred VanVleet dashed the Golden State Warriors’ dreams of ending their series against the Houston Rockets on Friday night.
Shortly after the start of the fourth quarter, VanVleet posted a deft three-pointer, drew a foul, and made his free throw.
Just moments later, Jalen Green scored a tip-in, and the Rockets firmly held the advantage in the game.
Speaking to ESPN after his 115-107 win over the Warriors, VanVleet mentioned how a “calm, steady mind” made it all possible.
“Now, as I get a little older, [I’ve been] able to play in enough of these games to realize that a calm, steady mind is the best path forward,” VanVleet said. “Not getting too high or too low, not getting too carried away, trusting the work, your teammates and things usually work out in the big picture.”
There was a level of confidence in VanVleet’s game on Friday, and it clearly helped him perform better.
He posted 29 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists for the night, leading his team in points and tying with Steph Curry for the most points in the game.
The good news for the Rockets is that VanVleet is one of multiple stars who can have a breakout game on any given night.
Others, such as Green, Amen Thompson, Steven Adams, and Dillon Brooks, could also go off at any moment.
Friday night’s game belonged to VanVleet, but it was truly a team victory, and now the Rockets have a chance to come back from a 3-1 deficit.
The final game of this series will be held in Houston, and the home crowd will surely be fired up and ready to root for their squad.
VanVleet played like a man on a mission on Friday night, and he will have to do it again because it all comes down to Game 7.
NEXT: Jalen Green Reveals What Stood Out With Amen Thompson's Performance
