Game 6 in the Western Conference Finals brings out something special in Klay Thompson.
He came alive when the Golden State Warriors needed someone or something to spark them in a Game 6 on the road in Oklahoma City against the Thunder. The Warriors were also down 3-2 in at that point in the series and the Thunder had all the moment until Thompson sucked the energy right out of the Chesapeake Arena with a 41 point performance.
On Saturday night he once again picked the perfect time to remind the NBA world that he remains one of the league's bright young all-stars hidden in the shadows of two former league MVPs.
"I don't want to go home," Thompson told TNT's David Aldridge after the game. "We worked too hard this season to go home. This what we play for when your back is against the wall it shows what you're made of. This feels great right now but as soon as I walk through this tunnel David I'm going to forget about this game."
Thompson finished with a game-high 35 points shooting 9-for-14 from three-point range as the Warriors defeat the Rockets 115-86 to force a Game 7 on Monday. Golden State is now 8-2 in the playoffs when Thompson scores 30 or more.
1The #Warriors are 8-2 in the playoffs when Klay breaks 30 https://t.co/vtFIdLmW9j https://t.co/gkI0KYQDwH
— Basketball Reference (@bball_ref) May 27, 2018
While his shooting was incredible and certainly helped the Warriors get back in the game, his defensive effort was equally as impressive. Thompson had a game-high four steals finishing a plus-32 after being a minus-1 at halftime.
The Warriors as a team held the Rockets to just 25 points in the second half after they exploded for 39 in the first period finally showing their championship calibre defence.
"Effort, intensity and passion," Thompson said of the team's defensive effort. "Those three things and playing smart. When we do that and we rotate and help each other, we're the best defensive team in the league."
The focus now shifts to Monday night in Houston for Game 7 an opportunity for another memorable performance presents itself - that's something that Thompson is fully aware of.
"These are the moments you live for man...especially as an NBA player you want this opportunity and it right there for us. We gotta have amnesia about tonight and we gotta get to Houston and stay focused."
