Warriors guard Klay Thompson enters NBA playoffs in top form after season-high 41 points in Golden State victory
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Monday 11 April 2022 13:37, UK
Klay Thompson's form is now the least of Golden State's worries.
Thompson made seven 3-pointers and scored a season-high 41 points for the Golden State Warriors, who landed the third seed in the Western Conference playoffs with a 128-107 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
"What I battled through, I'll never take a 40-ball lightly again," said Thompson, who now heads into the playoffs having scored 30-plus in three straight games.
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"That's hard to do in the NBA," Thompson continued. "I don't care who's guarding you, who's playing, 40 points is 40 points and that was a sweet night for myself."
"The proof is on the court just what he's looked like over the last couple weeks," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after Thompson's starring role in New Orleans on Sunday night to end the regular season. "He's been in a great groove now, so it's a really good sign."
Thompson's recent play is among the main reasons the Warriors are heading into the playoffs on a five-game winning streak. With fellow 'Splash Brother' Stephen Curry sidelined by a foot injury, Thompson has scored 30 or more in three straight games.
Since January 9, when he resumed a career derailed more than two seasons by successive knee and Achilles injuries, Thompson has averaged 20 points per game over 32 games.
"I pat myself on the back because when you go through the injuries I did, there's some really slow days," Thompson said. "There's so many tedious exercises and just building up your muscles again to do what you love is a challenge - something I never had to do before. So, to do it twice and come out and average (20 points) is inspiring for myself and just makes we want to keep going because I'm still just scratching the surface of what I can become."
In New Orleans, Thompson looked like the sharpshooter who could single-handedly take over a game.
He scored 21 first-half points to take Golden State to a 20-point halftime lead. And when New Orleans tried to make a game of it late in the third quarter, Thompson returned to put it away with 15 points in a five-minute span early in the fourth quarter.
His scoring came on everything, from driving reverse layups and floaters to pull-up jumpers, turnarounds and, of course, 3s – seven of them.
Kerr said the scoring display Thompson has put on recently "doesn't surprise me, actually, because it's Klay."
"He's one of the greatest shooters of all time," Kerr continued. "The biggest thing is he's just found his rhythm. He's gotten his conditioning. Early on, he wanted everything back so badly he was forcing the issue, and it's just been really fun to watch him settle in."
Just in time for the third-seeded Warriors' first playoff series in three seasons. They open their first-round series at home against Denver on Saturday night.
"A lot of ups and downs for myself this season, but I stuck with it," Thompson said. "I will continue to do that, and some great momentum going into the playoffs. I can't wait. I'm so excited of the playoffs. Having to watch the last two years was painful."
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