Klay Thompson posted an incredible performance against Indiana Pacers. He scored 60 points in just 29 minutes as the Warriors annihilated the Pacers.
Golden State Warriors crushed Indiana Pacers 142-106 on Monday night. Thompson made a history to become the only player in the NBA history to ever score 60 points under 30 minutes. After a strong 116-83 lead at the end of third quarter, Steve Kerr anticipated Indiana Pacers counter strategy to contain Thompson. So he let Thompson to rest in the entire fourth quarter as reported by FOX Sports.
Kerr joked when the reporter asked his reason to let Klay thompson sit in the bench for the entire fourth quarter.
"They said Dean Smith is the only guy who could hold MJ under 20,” Kerr said. “I'm the only guy who can hold Klay under 80, I guess."
Based on statistics, Thompson only touched the ball 46 times and dribbled 11 times during his presence on court. He shot 21 from 33 from the floor, 8 from 14 from behind the arc, and making 21 field goals.
His performance is insanely remarkable, considering his scoring is much better than that of Kobe Bryant’s 81 points ten years ago as reported by USA Today. Thompson averaged 2.07 points per minutes, better than Bryant’s 1.98 in the game against Toronto Raptors on Jan. 22, 2006. His overall efficiency is also higher with 63.3 percent, compared to 60.8 percent for Bryant.
Thompson’s shooting outbursts shows Kerr’s brilliant strategy. When Kevin Durant joined in the Warriors this summer, many suspected that Thompson would be sidelined to give way for Durant. But it doesn’t turn out that way.
Durant adds more values to the Warriors which has already been a solid team with the Splash brothers and Draymond Green. Thompson, Stephen Curry and Green are becoming better with Durant joining the team. The game against Pacers shows it.
Watch the highlight of Thompson’s extraordinary play to sccre 60 points in 29 minutes from the NBA channel below: