New Zealand's Steven Adams. Photo: AFP
The Houston Rockets are out of the NBA western conference play-offs after being upset by the Golden State Warriors in the seven-game series.
The Warriors won the deciding game 103-89 in Texas on Monday (NZT). Adams played 26 minutes for seven rebounds and three points.
Buddy Hield scored 33 points and Stephen Curry scored 22 points in the win.
Next stop in the play-offs for the Warriors is the semi-finals series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Rockets were the second seed in the western conference and the Warriors were the seventh seed going in the first round of the playoffs.
Adams' team were down 1-3 in the series before fighting back to level the series 3-3 ahead of Monday's game.
Adams and fellow centre Alperen Sengun were influential during the series with the NBA describing Adams as "an incredibly impactful catalyst off their bench".
The big New Zealander had a outing in game six of the series when he scored 17 points, five rebounds, three blocks and a steal.
The veteran missed the entire 2023/24 season with a knee injury and was nursed through the current campaign, as the Rockets saved him for the post-season.
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