Klay’s game-winner, clutch plays just what he, Warriors needed
originally appeared on
NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – Klay Thompson showcased his five-time NBA All-Star status by delivering four crucial moments during the final 124 seconds of Wednesday night’s game.
Each play was vital to the Warriors, but the timing of the fourth one was particularly exceptional.
With less than 10 seconds on the clock and the Warriors trailing Sacramento by one, Thompson received a pass from Draymond Green, made his way to the left corner of the foul line, pulled up, and sank the game-winning shot.
The ball dropped through the net with 0.2 seconds left, securing the Warriors’ gloriously hideous 102-101 victory and igniting a mix of nerves and sheer joy among the sellout crowd of 18,064 at Chase Center.
“It was a big shot for us – and for him,” said Stephen Curry.
“Hitting a game-winner like that is an incredible feeling,” Thompson added. “If someone says otherwise, they’re not being truthful. I feel amazing. I could’ve performed better. But it’s an outstanding win, and I feel absolutely wonderful.”
Thompson’s shot highlighted a sequence of plays that he executed during a game that lacked rhythm or aesthetic appeal.
First, there was the assist to Draymond Green, leading to a layup that brought the Warriors within one point (95-94) with 2:04 left. Then, Thompson received a pass from Draymond and made a layup, keeping the Warriors within striking distance (97-96) only 36 seconds later.
The third play occurred on the defensive end when Thompson stripped the ball from Sacramento’s Harrison Barnes, resulting in a shot-clock violation.
With 38.4 seconds remaining and the Warriors trailing 99-98, the shot-clock violation proved crucial.
“That was a huge play,” remarked Draymond. “For him to prevent Harrison from attempting that shot was significant because we got the shot-clock violation and had the opportunity to set up our offense.”
“Making hustle plays like that usually gets rewarded by the basketball gods,” Draymond added.
And the ultimate reward came 38.2 seconds later when Thompson released the shot that brought the building to its feet.
This was Thompson’s third game-winning shot within the final five seconds of a regular-season game, with previous clutch shots against the Pacers in 2014 and the Kings in 2018.
“He’s made countless big shots for us in the past,” said coach Steve Kerr. “But hitting a shot with 0.2 seconds left when you’re trailing, that’s thrilling for anyone, regardless of experience.”
Thompson’s performance over the final two minutes erased his frustrations from the first three quarters. After a rough start (3-of-11 from the field), he found his rhythm in the fourth quarter, making 3-of-4 shots. Overall, he contributed 14 points, three blocks, two rebounds, two assists, and had a team-best plus-10 rating in 29 minutes of play.
“I didn’t shoot as well as I wanted to tonight, but I stayed focused on defense,” Thompson admitted. “And that’s why I was able to hit that shot at the end.”
Thompson’s performance throughout most of the game reflected his struggles in the first three games of the season. There were no flashy moments, no scoring outbursts. Despite averaging 17.3 points, he was clearly searching for his usual form.
It was reasonable to wonder if his contract status was affecting his performance. Thompson will become an unrestricted free agent next summer, and contract negotiations have stalled, though they could resume soon.
However, it was evident that Thompson’s frustrations extended beyond his own feelings, as those who have witnessed his greatness also felt the disappointment.
“He’s been working to find his rhythm and improve his start to the season,” said Draymond. “To see him hit a big shot like that in the clutch, it meant a lot. His reaction was priceless.”
Thompson celebrated with joyous gestures and chest bumps, starting with Draymond, who received an enthusiastic tap on the chest. Klay had redeemed himself, feeling proud of his massive contribution to the victory against a fierce rival.
“I’m really happy for Klay,” added Kerr. “He put in a lot of work this summer, and the season didn’t start as smoothly for him during training camp. But he’s finding his rhythm, and that shot was undeniably enormous.”
Thompson and the Warriors hope to maintain their winning streak and defensive intensity. The team’s management wants to assess if Thompson can still perform at an All-Star level. And that’s Thompson’s own goal. This game was a solid step toward achieving it.
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