NEW ORLEANS — Klay Thompson threw an emphatic fist bump after sinking his seventh 3-pointer Sunday night in the fourth quarter before he checked out of the game for the final time.
Thompson on Sunday put to rest any doubt of whether he would be able to return to his previous form after overcoming two serious injuries that sidelined him for more than two years as he continues to author one of the most remarkable redemption stories the league has ever witnessed.
Thompson scored 11 consecutive points for Golden State in the fourth quarter en route to the Warriors’ 128-107 win over the middling Pelicans, which officially locked them in as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.
In all, Thompson finished with a season-high 41 points, which bumped his season average up to 20 points per game. It was his third consecutive game he recorded at least 30 points, marking the fourth time in his career he accomplished this feat.
So let it be known, Thompson is back and his tale is far from over.
The Warriors will play the fifth-place Denver Nuggets in the first round, which is scheduled to begin April 17.
The Warriors tied for the third-best record in the league (53-29). Only Western Conference foes the Memphis Grizzlies (56-26) and Phoenix Suns (64-17) had better records.
And it’s noteworthy that Golden State accomplished this with its dynastic trio of Stephen Curry, Thompson and Draymond Green playing only 11 minutes together the entire season.
The season has been filled with mountainous highs and deep lows for both the team and individual players.
Thompson has been under the spotlight for the last few months, and it hasn’t always been easy for him as he struggled at times with his shot selection and being consistent. But when he was on his game, Thompson looked like his former self, effortlessly draining his signature quick-release 3-pointers like it was nobody’s business.
And if Sunday night was any indication, Thompson is finding his rhythm just in time for the playoffs.
Other bright spots of the season include Jordan Poole’s emergence as a formidable offensive weapon for the Warriors and fearless playmaker, and Jonathan Kuminga’s growth on both ends of the court, including proving himself to be an aggressive rim attacker.
And that’s not to mention Curry, who broke the all-time record for 3-pointers earlier this year and dropped 50 points in a November game, or Kevon Looney, who accomplished his goal of playing in all 82 games.
In fact, there’s been so many noteworthy moments that coach Steve Kerr couldn’t choose just one.
The Warriors are riding a five-game win streak after struggling through an obscure March with jumbled results.
Kerr’s mind is on the road ahead.
“What’s at the forefront for me is we still have work to do,” he said. “It’s been a really good season. I mean, if we had said before the season starts… we [would] win 52, 53 games, I think everybody would have taken it. But it’s been a strange route to get here. The last six weeks had been uneven. We just have not been able to get everybody healthy at the right time or at any time, but we still have that opportunity.”
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