Klay Thompson stats tonight: How did the Mavs forward fare against Boston Celtics (Feb. 6)
Klay Thompson was off to a blitzkrieg start, erupting for 23 points as the Dallas Mavericks pulled off a 67-56 lead against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on Thursday. The four-time NBA champion had a game-high before halftime, as the Mavs put the pressure on the Celtics early on.
Thompson finished his half on 10-of-13 shooting from the field and 3-of-5 from the deep, along with one rebound and two assists. Dallas was yet to see their latest acquisition, Anthony Davis suit up, but it was the 34-year-old Thompson doing the damage as the post-Luka Doncic Mavericks looked lethal against Boston. He eventually ended with 25 points as the Mavs fended off the Celtics 127-120.
Klay Thompson comes into the game averaging 13.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 44 games this season.
Former NBA champion makes brow-raising Klay Thompson-Jimmy Butler comparison after Warriors land former Heat star
Speaking on ESPN's NBA Today, former NBA champion Richard Jefferson weighed in on the Jimmy Butler trade and threw in a comparison between Thompson and the Heat forward.
"I look at all of the things that have transpired in Miami over the last couple of months, and when I see Jimmy, I see a competitor. Is he as skilled as Kevin Durant? Is he as skilled as Klay Thompson? No, but is he still in his prime? Is he still capable, and very, very capable? Yes, I like what he brings defensively. I hate to use this term, sometimes with Jimmy, but he is an adult in the room."
While Butler now comes in to fill the void Thompson left, the latter will have his work cut out with the Luka Doncic-less Mavericks. The new 'Big 3' in Dallas now features him alongside Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis. If the veteran forward can have explosive starts like he did against the Celtics, the Mavs can make that much-needed surge.