Just last week before the All-Star break, Klay Thompson also received medical clearance to play in back-to-back nights, 13 months after returning from an absence of more than 2 1/2 years recovering from knee and Achilles surgery. Was.
He is flourishing again as he defiantly promised.
Thompson scored 42 points and matched his season high with 12 3-pointers to lead the undermanned Golden State Warriors past the Houston Rockets 116-101 on Friday night.
”I don’t like to talk about vintage me or am I old me?” Thompson said. “I feel like I’m myself and I was capable of these things in the past and as long as my wrists still work, my legs still work, I’ll be able to hit rock forever.”
It was Thompson’s third career game with 12 or more 3s – NBA career 3-point leader Stephen Curry has done so twice, and Thompson told him so.
”It was one of those nights when my hands were hot,” she said. “It felt great, I cannot lie to you all.”
Donte DiVincenzo added 15 points in the second game of back-to-back road homes in a 124-111 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night. Jordan Poole’s 38-footer beat the halftime buzzer to put Golden State ahead 66–49 at the break, and he scored 15.
KJ Martin had 22 points and eight rebounds, Tyte Washington Jr. had 15 and J’Sean Tate scored 14 for the NBA-worst Rockets (13-46), who lost their eighth straight on the road and fifth in a row.
Thompson went 12 for 19 on shots – all of his shots coming from long range – and helped Golden State open up a 44–31 lead on an 18–5 early second run. A career-best two for 3-pointers and four points shy of his season high, Thompson sat down for good to a roaring ovation with 1:41 remaining.
“He was fantastic tonight and it’s great to see him now at a point where he can do that,” said coach Steve Kerr, who challenged Thompson to become a better rebounder. “I’m really happy for Kel, he’s put in the work. I loved the fact that he got seven rebounds.
The Warriors had lost two straight and four out of five but won their sixth of seven at home.
Kevon Looney grabbed 13 rebounds for his fifth straight game with at least that many rebounds. He was the first player since Andrew Bogut in 2014 to do so in four consecutive matches.
Draymond Green was listed as probable with a right knee injury but did not play, leaving the defending champions with three starters along with Stephen Curry and Andrew Wiggins. Green is expected to return on Sunday.
Curry, the reigning NBA Finals MVP, has been out the last seven games with a left foot injury after suffering the injury against Dallas on February 4 in a collision defending McKinley Wright IV as he drove to the basket. Wright’s knee hit Curry’s shin. An MRI exam showed partial tears in his superior tibiofibular ligament and the interosseous membrane in his left leg. He also got scratched.
Rookie Patrick Baldwin Jr. added 11 points with three 3’s. The Warriors’ nine consecutive wins in the series are their longest-ever winning streak against Houston.
Healing pastor
Longtime Warriors and 49ers team chaplain Earl Smith is recovering from being struck by an Uber driver while attending the All-Star Game in Utah. His left arm is in a soft cast and he is wearing a walking boot on his right leg.
“I’m doing better,” Smith texted the AP. ”I would appreciate all the positive prayers. Thank you.”
Rockets: Houston limited its first-half turnovers to four and committed just seven for a game to Golden State’s 19 that led to 24 Rockets points. … Houston has not beaten the Warriors since a 135–105 win on February 20, 2020, and has lost five straight at the Warriors’ home field. … The Rockets are 7-32 versus the Western Conference, including 2-20 from Houston.
Warriors: Golden State missed its seventh straight home game by scoring at least 122 points. … Wiggins missed his third straight game while dealing with a family matter. Kerr is not sure when Wiggins will be back. … The Warriors had scored at least 120 points in each of their last three meetings with the Rockets. … Golden State played its 13th set back-to-back.
Next
Rockets: Lost the last two games this season in Portland on Sunday night.
Warriors: Host the Timberwolves on Sunday night.