The Golden State Warriors escaped the Houston Rockets in Game 7 of their first-round matchup, setting a date in the Conference Semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who cruised past the star-studded, albeit shallow, Los Angeles Lakers.

The final two games of the series, for both Steve Kerr and Ime Udoka, were defined by Gregg Popovich’s retirement from the San Antonio Spurs after 29 seasons. Both Kerr and Udoka played under Popovich and credit him for their eventual coaching success.

With plenty of reasons to be sentimental, Kerr gave the young Rockets’ team their flowers.

Udoka and Kerr did not play together under Popovich, but both are two of the stronger branches on the massive coaching tree, and Kerr has the less-experienced head coach his props after the game.

“Ime did an amazing job,” said Kerr of the young Rockets. “Really, the whole rebuild over the last couple of years has been so impressive. We were lucky to get out of this series. Much respect to the Rockets, their staff, and their organization. They have a great team and had a great season.”

It’s not often that a coach who often preaches about resolve and resilience, like Kerr, to credit “luck” with the victory, although that word stood out to him.

As the Dubs look ahead to Game 1 on Tuesdya, the Rockets are expected to have a busy offseason of their own, having already been linked to premier trade candidates like Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo.