SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Klay Thompson couldn’t wait to get his first shot up after more than two years away.
Thompson’s running layup 40 seconds into Golden State’s 96-82 victory over Cleveland yesterday was a sign that the five-time All-Star is feeling just fine – even if coach Steve Kerr drew up the play for someone else.
“He wasn’t shy, was he?” Kerr said. “Not that we would ever expect Klay to be shy. I drew up the first play not for him but for him to catch it and move it on. I should have known better.”
Thompson finished with 17 points in his return from two devastating injuries on a night when he was the toast of San Francisco. Thompson was seven of 18 from the field and three of eight from three-point range. He added three rebounds, an assist and a steal in 20 minutes, walking off the court to a thunderous ovation followed by chants of “Klay! Klay!” from the Chase Center crowd.
As for the first play? Thompson said he couldn’t help himself.
“I was so excited I saw a lane to the basket that I just took the opportunity,” Thompson said. “After that I thought it was going to be one of those nights where I might be unconscious. I did not shoot as well as I wanted to but I’m so happy I can even look at the stat sheet and see my name there. It’s been a long run. I’m not going to say it equivalent to winning a championship but it was pretty close.”
Stephen Curry had 29 points, five rebounds and five assists, and Jordan Poole added 14 points for Golden State. The Warriors snapped a two-game losing streak to tie Phoenix for the NBA lead at 30-9.
Lamar Stevens had 17 points and four rebounds for Cleveland.
Thompson missed 941 days and hadn’t played since tearing the ACL in his left knee in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals against Toronto. While rehabbing from surgery for that injury, he tore his right Achilles tendon scrimmaging on his own in November 2020.
The five-time All-Star finally made his much-anticipated return, and reached two career milestones – 12,000 points and 1,800 three-pointers.
