But mostly, Buddy Hield played the game of his professional life. Hield poured in six 3-pointers en route to 22 first-half points, accounting for nearly 50% of Golden State's offense through the first two quarters and what could only be described as a sigh-of-relief halftime margin.

Golden State Warriors guard Buddy Hield shoots during the second quarter of Game 7 of their first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center in Houston on May 4, 2024. / Troy Taormina / Imagn Images

Hield had a game-high 24 points and hit five threes as the Warriors beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 99-88 in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals Tuesday night. He quipped after game that he was Batman on the court because he "saved the day," adding that Butler was "still Robin."