An In-Depth Look at Klay Thompson’s 60-Point Explosion
On December 5, 2016, history was made at Oracle Arena. Golden State Warriors sharpshooter Klay Thompson saw the rim at a much bigger width than most of us, to say the least.
Thompson compiled an absurd 60 points in just 29:03 minutes of play while shooting 21/33 from the field, 8/14 from three-point land, and 10/11 from the free-throw line. At halftime, his point total already stood at 40, and if it weren’t for his time on the bench in the 4th, he may have been knocking at Kobe Bryant’s door nearing 81 points.
Shot-after-shot, Thompson was making or joining history. His off-the-ball knowledge to find himself open beyond the three-point line and quick trigger finger allowed him to terrorize the Indiana Pacers defense. Thompson once said after Golden State acquired Kevin Durant this summer that “[he’s] not sacrificing [expletive], because [his] games isn’t changing.” Well, you didn’t have to sacrifice anything, Klay.
How did Thompson do it?
First Quarter – 10:38 – 3 points – Draymond Green finds Thompson for a wide-open three on the left side
First Quarter – 8:18 – 5 points – Thompson nails a contested quick-release jumper over Monta Ellis in front of Golden State’s bench
First Quarter – 6:57 – 7 points – Thompson attacks the rim finger-rolling it into the net
First Quarter – 6:34 – 9 points – Zaza Pachulia finds Thompson for a back-door reverse layup
First Quarter – 5:33 – 11 points – Draymond Green hits Thompson off a screen, Thompson creates space and hits a jumper off-the-dribble
First Quarter – 5:07 – 13 points – Thompson drives to the rim, lays it in for two points
First Quarter – 4:00 – 15 points – Thompson hits a reverse layup on the fast break, assisted by Stephen Curry
First Quarter – 3:04 – 17 points – Thompson runs the floor off the inbound for an easy layup
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Second Quarter – 8:55 – 19 points – Thompson spades to the rim for an easy finger-roll
Second Quarter – 7:50 – 21 points – Thompson hits a running fadeaway jumper over Myles Turner
Second Quarter – 6:55 – 24 points – Kevin Durant finds a wide-open Thompson for three
Second Quarter – 6:33 – 27 points – Three-pointer on the fastbreak; Thompson creates space with a side-step
Second Quarter – 6:04 – 30 points – Fadeaway three-pointer made in the corner over Monta Ellis; Golden State’s bench goes wild
Second Quarter – 4:41 – 31, 32 points – Thompson hits both free-throws giving him 32 points
Second Quarter – 2:34 – 34 points – Thompson hits a turnaround bank shot, assisted by Kevin Durant
Second Quarter – 00:48.1 – 35, 36, 37 points – Three free-throws after drawing foul from three-point range
Second Quarter – 00:28.3 – 40 points – Stephen Curry finds Thompson for a moving, straight-on three-pointer
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Third Quarter – 10:35 – 42 points – Thompson buries a pull-up jumper
Third Quarter – 9:32 – 44 points – Zaza Pachulia finds Thompson cutting for the layup
Third Quarter – 8:23 – 46 points – Thompson slashes to the rim for a finger-roll
Third Quarter – 7:06 – 47, 48 points – Two free-throws made
Third Quarter – 6:40 – 49, 50 points – Two free-throws made
Third Quarter – 4:45 – 51 points – One of two free-throws made
Third Quarter – 4:37 – 54 points – Zaza Pachulia finds Thompson for a three-pointer in the corner
Third Quarter – 3:29 – 57 points – Stephen Curry cross court pass to Thompson for three
Third Quarter – 2:28 – 60 points – Thompson nails his final points of the game off a corner three-pointer set up by Andre Iguodala
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Statistics from Thompson’s historic performance:
- 60 points are the most in the NBA this season
- 60 points is a new career-high
- The last player to put up 60 points in three quarters was Kobe Bryant in 2005
- Before Thompson’s 60-point explosion in 29 minutes, the most a player has scored in less than 30 minutes played was Larry Bird with 43 in 1986
- Thompson’s 40-point first half was the first since Kobe Bryant vs. Michael Jordan’s Washington Wizards in 2003
- Thompson joins Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James as the only active players with 60 or more points in a game
- Thompson is the fourth Golden State Warrior in franchise history after Wilt Chamberlain, Rick Barry and, Joe Fulks to put up 60 points in a game
It is hard to imagine any player this season will top Klay Thompson’s 60 point performance. Thompson put on a shooting clinic last night; one that will undoubtedly go down in the history books.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIpjp9tHQlw&t=0s