Klay Thompson bombed in 12 3-pointers during a 42-point performance Friday night as the Golden State Warriors, despite going without three starters, overpowered the Houston Rockets 116-101 in San Francisco.
Thompson shot 12-for-17 from beyond the arc, accounting for all but six of his points as he matched his second-highest-scoring performance of the season. The other six points came on 6-for-6 success from the free-throw line.
The NBA record-holder with a 14-trey game in 2018, Thompson became the first player to have 12 or more 3-pointers in a game three times. He broke a tie with teammate Stephen Curry, who has had two such games, with games of 13 and 12 in 2016. Only three other players — Zach LaVine (13 in 2019), Kobe Bryant (12 in 2003), Donyell Marshall (12 in 2005) — have done it once.
Thompson’s big game came on the second night of a back-to-back, just the second he’s been allowed to play this season as he attempts to fully recover from two missed seasons due to knee and Achilles surgeries.
Curry sat out the game due to a knee injury, joining Andrew Wiggins (personal reasons) and Draymond Green (knee) on the sideline.
Despite the absences, the Warriors were able to snap a two-game losing streak, bouncing back from a 124-111 road loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night.
Seeking to end a seven-game losing streak, but playing without top scorers Jalen Green (groin) and Kevin Porter Jr. (foot), the Rockets hung within 51-45 with 2:57 remaining in the first half after a hoop by Kenyon Martin Jr.
But Donte DiVincenzo (two), Thompson (one) and Jordan Poole (one) combined for four 3-pointers in the final 2:11 before the intermission, leading a 15-4 burst that broke the game open at 66-49.
In losing for the third straight time to the Warriors this season, the Rockets were never appreciably closer in the second half as they took their eighth consecutive loss.
DiVincenzo and Poole backed Thompson with 15 points apiece for the Warriors, while Patrick Baldwin Jr. added 11. Those three combined for 10 3-pointers, and Golden State finished 26-for-54 (48.1 percent) from long range for the night.
Poole also found time for a game-high-tying eight assists, while Kevon Looney was the game’s leading rebounder with 13.
Martin topped the Rockets with 22 points despite missing all three of his 3-point attempts. Houston shot just 11-for-35 (31.4 percent) from beyond the arc.
TyTy Washington Jr. chipped in with 15 points in his first NBA start for the Rockets, while Jae’Sean Tate added 14, Josh Christopher 13 and Jabari Smith Jr. 13 to complement a team-high-tying nine rebounds.
Alperen Sengun tied Poole for game-high assist honors with eight while also finding time for nine rebounds and five points.
–Field Level Media
