When Golden State Warriors sharpshooter Klay Thompson gets hot, there is no stopping him. The Phoenix Suns witnessed that first-hand after Thompson dropped 33 points on them in the first half of the Warriors’ 123-112 win on Monday night.
Thompson started his scoring run on the Warriors’ first possession of the game, hitting a three-pointer after an assist from Draymond Green. The 33-year-old All-Star went on to hit seven buckets from beyond the arc and shoot 12-of-18 from the field to help his team grab a 75-58 lead on the half.
The Suns game marked the fifth time that he managed to score at least eight three-pointers in the first half. According to Basketball Reference, this is the most by any player since “at least” the 1996-97 NBA season.
With the Warriors already having a big lead, Thompson took a breather in the second half. He finished the game with 38 points and five rebounds. He is currently averaging 22.3 points per game, tying his career-high from the 2016-17 campaign.
The win over the Suns allowed the Warriors to remain at No. 5 in the loaded West and avoid slipping to the play-in tournament. They are currently tied with the LA Clippers, who are at No. 6, and trail the fourth-seeded Phoenix by a game and a half.
