Kyla Clay struck again.
The Golden State Warriors beat LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers 127-100 in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinal Series Thursday night, thanks in large part to a classic performance by Klay Thompson.
The 33-year-old shooting guard scored 33 points on the strength of an 11-18 night from the field that also included 8-of-3 points. Not only did Thompson’s latest blast help the defending champs tie up a best-of-seven series every game, it could also be A sign of things to happen when they look to repeat.
“This is the best version of Klay when he’s really offensive but he hits great shots.” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr Yahoo Sports after winning.
Warriors: Don’t forget about Klay Thompson.
The anecdotes surrounding the Lakers Warriors’ second-round series have largely concerned the reconciling of Stephen Curry and LeBron James, but it could be each legend’s supporting cast that makes all the difference throughout the series.
It’s no secret that Curry and Thompson were a massively successful backcourt tandem who practically revolutionized the sport with their consistent use of 3-point shooting. But Thompson hasn’t been the same player since he tore his ACL during the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors and tore his Achilles prior to the 2020-2021 season.
While the Washington State product was an integral part of the 2022 championship team last season, he was able to rely more heavily on Curry as well as youngsters like Jordan Paul and Andrew Wiggins.
With Wiggins still getting back into the fray after missing two months of the season due to personal reasons and Paul struggling to always be elite, Thompson will have to put his best foot forward against Los Angeles.
His showing in Game 2 should be encouraging for Warriors coach Steve Kerr and his teammates, as it shows that even with the slightest footing, Thompson can still defeat big jumpers, and score effective points.
The Lakers, led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis, weren’t built to beat their opponents. Players like D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura have all shown an ability to connect from the range, but their primary goals are to play well in the transition and create an easy look in the paint.
In their 117-112 Game 1 victory, the Lakers scored 54 of 117 points in the paint, aided by a particularly strong outing from Davis, who amassed 30 points and 23 rebounds on an 11-19 shooting segment. This is a key dynamic that the Warriors will likely be looking to exploit, especially after Thompson’s play early in the series.
To beat Los Angeles, Golden State must dictate the flow of the game and effectively run its penalty shootouts. A slower, more defensive game will support the Lakers’ efforts to pick holes and build easy chances on the other end of the field. If the Dubs can play by their own rules, it follows that Klay Thompson will be poised for more classic moments this postseason.