Martinez Tribune The website of the Martinez Tribune.
BY DANIEL GLUSKOTER
Klay Thompson exploded for 16 points in the fourth quarter Saturday night, helping to lead the Warriors to an exhilarating 117–115 win over the Los Angeles Lakers at Chase Center.
Klay Thompson drives the lane on the way to a game-high 33 points during the Warriors 117-115 win over the Lakers Saturday evening at Chase Center.
Thompson, in just his 14th game back after being sidelined with injuries for 2 1/2 years, had his best game since returning to the lineup, leading all scorers with 33 points on 12-22 shooting, including five three-pointers.
Steph Curry finished with 24 points and eight assists, while Andrew Wiggins added 19 points to help the Warriors end a two-game slide and avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season. Jonathan Kuminga added 18 points and nine rebounds, also playing aggressive defense on LeBron James.
Steph Curry goes up for a shot in the first half of Golden State’s 117-115 win over the Lakers Saturday night. Curry finished with 24 points and eight assists.
James had 26 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists, but missed his first free throw after Curry fouled him attempting a 3-pointer with 2.4 seconds left. He made the second before missing the third on purpose but the Lakers couldn’t secure the rebound in time to get a shot off. James extended his streak of 25 points or more to 22 games and passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for most combined regular season and postseason points scored in the NBA history with 44,157. He tied Abdul-Jabbar’s mark of 44,149 in the first half, then passed it with a 3-pointer early in the third quarter. Abdul-Jabbar still owns the career record for regular-season games with 38,387 points, but James is less than 2,000 points behind.
Russell Westbrook added 19 points and seven rebounds for Los Angeles while Anthony Davis added 16 with seven boards. Talen Horton-Tucker also chipped in 17 points and seven rebounds off the bench.
Kevon Looney gets a face full of defense from the Lakers Anthony Davis Saturday night at Chase Center.
Asked about Thompson’s heroics after the game, Warriors coach Steve Kerr didn’t mince words, ““Phenomenal. Just took over the game at a time when we desperately needed him. We’ve been around Klay for so long. I don’t know if it’s, two or three in a row, but he’s just has a look on his face, a bounce in his step and you can feel it coming.”
Kerr added, “It’s pretty special because the crowd has seen it so many times and, for it to happen, now after that two-and-a-half-year layoff, as much as everyone loved Klay back then they love him even more now because they know what he’s been through. To see him ignite and to see the crowd getting so into it with his teammates, Klay is special. It goes beyond making shots. He brings electricity to the building that’s hard to quantify.”
After a break to enjoy Super Bowl Sunday, the Warriors will return to action Monday night with a game in Los Angeles against the Clippers.
GAME NOTES:
The last time Thompson scored at least 30 points in game was when he scored 30 points in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals on June 13, 2019.
The Warriors improved the NBA’s best home record to 26-5 at Chase Center.
Jonathan Kuminga’s nine rebounds were one shy of matching his career-best of 10.
The Warriors and Suns remain the only two teams in the league without a three-game losing streak this season.
Golden State only turned the ball over nine times, two shy of its season low of seven.
