In addition to the game-winning shot, Klay Thompson also contributed with three blocks in the final quarter, sending a message to the Warriors’ leadership.
Believe it or not, this was the 12th meeting in the last 17 games where the Sacramento Kings faced off against the Golden State Warriors in the NBA league.
The Kings entered the game without one of their star players, De’Aaron Fox, who was dealing with a minor injury, but they put on an impressive performance and gave Stephen Curry and the Warriors a tough challenge. The game had an intensified level of intensity, and neither team established a significant lead. It was clear that they had some unresolved matters from last year’s playoffs when the series went to seven games, and the Kings ended up on the losing side.
A closely contested game all the way until the very end
The Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis has become everything that was once predicted in the earlier stages of the career of the Croatian Dario Saric – a versatile big man with a great sense of passing. Sabonis was the star of the Kings with 23 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists while shooting 8-16 from the field. However, he struggled with free throws, making only 7 out of 12 attempts, which might have been crucial for the Kings’ win. He was closely followed by Malik Monk with 16 points and Harrison Barnes with 14 points.
Defensive clinic by Thompson and Green in the thrilling final quarter
As they entered the final quarter with a three-point lead, the Kings played a back-and-forth game, and that’s when Klay Thompson showcased his excellent defensive abilities. He blocked Domantas Sabonis, who is much taller and stronger, twice in two consecutive possessions, seemingly disrupting Sabonis’s rhythm, leading to two consecutive missed free throws. Later, Harrison Barnes, a former Warriors player, also fell victim to a block.
Later in that quarter, Draymond Green also reminded us of his prime with two blocks and his ability to generate offense for the Warriors, which was much needed on a night when Stephen Curry had a subpar shooting performance.
In the final minute, as mentioned earlier, there was Thompson’s block on Barnes, and then Stephen Curry made a floater. Sabonis responded with a layup off the glass, giving his team a one-point lead with 15 seconds remaining.
During the timeout, Steve Kerr drew up a play for the “hot” Klay Thompson, who took a mid-range shot and made it for the win with less than a second left. Warriros took the 102-101 win.
Dario Saric delivered his best performance in a Warriors jersey
In the winning team, the standout players were Stephen Curry with 21 points (7-15 field goal shooting) but with only three assists and seven turnovers. Dario Saric was the second-highest scorer on the team with 15 points, along with six rebounds and two assists (shooting 6-9 from the field), while Klay Thompson contributed 14 points. Draymond Green had 13 points, nine assists, and added two rebounds, steals, and blocks each.
Klay Thompson sent a message to the Warriors’ leadership
Klay Thompson showed last night that he’s far from being written off and can still perform excellently on both ends of the court, even deciding games when needed. He sent a message to the Warriors‘ leadership, who are reluctant to give him the contract he’s seeking, believing it may be too much for a player of his age.