Klay Thompson Scores 60 Points In Warriors’ 142-106 Rout Of Pacers

By the time there was still 4:27 remaining in the third quarter, Klay Thompson had already fired up the crowd at Oracle Arena on Monday night by sinking a three-pointer to set a career high with 54 points.

Klay Thompson Scores 60 Points In Warriors’ 142-106 Rout Of Pacers

The Oakland crowd of 19,596 began chanting “KLAY! KLAY! KLAY!” to laud the shooting guard, who finished with 60 points to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 142-106 rout of the Indiana Pacers on Monday.

Thompson delivered the highest-scoring output by a Warriors player in more than 42 years (Rick Barry scored 64 against Portland 43 years ago). Since Golden State was well ahead, he sat out the final 13-plus minutes.

”Who knows? I know he would have kept shooting,” coach Steve Kerr said. ”Klay’s never going to stop shooting.”

At one point, even Pacers coach Nate McMillan looked completely speechless during a quiet timeout on his bench.

“I felt every shot I took was a good shot,” Thompson said. ”It’s just unfortunate two times I got my career high I didn’t get to play the fourth quarter.”

The guard scored 40 points by halftime in just 18-plus minutes. Nearly two years ago, Thompson had a 37-point quarter on the way to a 52-point outburst against Sacramento.

Thompson joined Hall of Famers Barry, Wilt Chamberlain and Joe Fulks as the only Warriors to score 60 points.

Now, Thompson hopes he can someday score more.

”Maybe. I think I could have, maybe one day I’ll have the opportunity,” he said, ”But 60 in 29 minutes is not too bad.”

Not even Warriors teammates Stephen Curry or Kevin Durant, who boast a combined five NBA scoring titles, have sunk as many points in one game as Thompson did Monday.

Thompson shot 21 for 33 and 8 of 14 on 3-pointers – 15 of 22 with five 3s in the first two quarters – and converted 10 of 11 free throws in 29 minutes.

“That’s a feat that I put money on will probably never be touched ever again in the history of basketball,” Curry said.

Previously this season, the highest scorers were Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook with 51 in an overtime game and Anthony Davis with 50 in regulation for New Orelans.

Durant added 20 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two blocks for the Warriors in another display of spectacular passing. Golden State’s 15 first-quarter assists matched a franchise record done twice previously and they wound up with 45 total– two off the franchise record they set Nov. 24 against the Lakers.

Paul George had 21 points and 10 rebounds one night after playing nearly 34 minutes and much of that with tissue in his bloody nose.

The Pacers (10-11) are now 2-7 on the road. They will continue their five-game road trip with the second-to-last game Wednesday at Phoenix, where the Pacers have lost eight of their last 11 meetings.

The Warriors (18-3), meanwhile, will begin a five-game road trip over seven days at the Clippers on Wednesday night.

”Five in seven, that’s rough, that’s tough,” Kerr said.

OAKLAND, CA – OCTOBER 04: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors reacts during their preseason game against the Los Angeles Clippers at ORACLE Arena on October 4, 2016 in Oakland, California.

Article by Pablo Mena