The Houston Rockets kept their season alive on Friday night. They pulled off a 115-107 win over the Golden State Warriors in Game 6 to even the playoff series 3-3. With the victory, the Rockets forced a winner-take-all Game 7. The win saw another powerful playoff performance by center Steven Adams.
When the Warriors were 89-98 in the fourth quarter, the Warriors were in desperate need of a spark. Amen Thompson and Jimmy Butler were spotted fighting for possession after a jump ball. During this time, Adams brought levity to the moment and a bit of chaos. The big man ran over and wrapped Butler in a playful hug from behind.
Steven Adams funny af 😭 pic.twitter.com/aSwXdsVSmM
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) May 3, 2025
The moment didn’t last long, as officials quickly stepped in, but it was enough to set social media on fire. The moment became an instant classic among fans, who couldn’t stop laughing at Adams’ unexpected move.
“i love stevo,” one fan tweeted.
i love stevo
— Justin Kelly (@justinnkellyyy) May 3, 2025
Another fan dubbed Adams the “Gentle giant.”
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Gentle giant
— VFAM (@vfam_meta) May 3, 2025
“A hug from Adams has to be so nice low key,” read another comment.
A hug from Adam’s has to be so nice low key.
— Halestorm Sports (@TheRealEvanHale) May 3, 2025
One fan joked, “Nah this look crazy wtf Adam.”
Nah this look crazy wtf Adam’s 😂
— Krusty (@KrustyDaClown6) May 3, 2025
The internet had fun imagining what might have happened if Adams didn’t bring his brand of humor.
“Would’ve been a generational crash out without the loving Adams,” one fan commented.
Would’ve been a generational crash out without the loving Adams
— Streets Have Spoken (@VisionsDb) May 3, 2025
Fred VanVleet Praises Steven Adams’ Impact
After the game, Rockets point guard Fred VanVleet joined ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt for a postgame interview. During the interview, VanVleet gave high praise to his teammate.
“He’s the ultimate man. He’s just an enforcer down there. He’s like a big caveman in this era of small basketball. An old big just roughing everybody up. He’s impacted us on another level, a historical level honestly. Made his free throws tonight. We’re gonna play him until he dies out there,” VanVleet said.
Adams’ numbers back up the praise. He recorded 17 points, five rebounds, three blocks, a perfect 4-of-4 from the field, and 9-of-16 from the free-throw line. What’s more, the Rockets are a +53 with Adams on the floor in this series and a worrying -39 when he sits.
