Game Recap
Golden State's Klay Thompson had a night to remember, scoring 60 points to lead the Warriors (18-3) to a 142-106 route of the Indiana Pacers (10-11). Thompson's final total was a career-high and the most points an opposing player has ever scored against the Pacers in their 50-year history.
Throughout his career, Thompson has had huge games against the Indiana Pacers, scoring 40, 39 and 39 against them in previous matchups. Monday night was yet another amazing display by the sixth-year shooting guard.
The Pacers were competitive in the early going, even holding an 11-10 advantage at the 7:27 mark in the opening quarter. But the Warriors' offense, which is known for its ability to put up points quickly, put together a 9-2 run in less than two minutes to lead 19-13 and force a Pacers timeout with 6:02 left in the first.
By the end of the quarter, the Warriors had a double-digit lead at 38-27, as Thompson had begun his offensive showcase and Golden State couldn't be stopped in transition. Thompson ended the period with 17 points, and as a team, the Warriors had 11 fast break points.
In the second, Thompson showed no signs of slowing down. The sharpshooter broke the game open by nailing a 3-pointer on three straight possessions. Thompson's seemingly inability to miss pushed his team's lead to 20 at 59-39, with 6:03 left in the half.
After that sequence, the floodgates opened. When halftime arrived, Thompson had scored 23 points in the quarter to give him 40 for the half, and the Warriors were up by 30 points, 80-50.
<Thompson's 40-point half was the highest scoring half of his career and the first time an NBA player had scored 40 in a half since Kobe Bryant did it in a Los Angeles Lakers uniform back on March 28, 2003.
The third quarter followed the theme of the two previous, as Thompson continued to add to his total. He scored 20 points in the third to give himself 60 for the game. Heading into the fourth, Indiana trailed, 116-83.
The final quarter was of little consequence as the outcome of the game was already decided, and Thompson didn't receive any more minutes.
For Indiana, Paul George scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Jeff Teague added 16 points and six assists.
Kevin Durant and Steph Curry supported Thompson's efforts with 20 and 13 points, respectively. Curry also dished out 11 assists.
Inside the Numbers
No Pacers player finished with a positive +/- rating.
Golden State had 45 assists, 25 more than Indiana.
Paul George was a perfect 13-of-13 from the free-throw line. It was the most attempts and makes he's had from the charity stripe in a game this season.
Stat of the Night
Klay Thompson's stat line was one that will not soon be forgotten. Thompson scored 60 points in 29 minutes on 21-of-33 shooting, including 8-of-14 from beyond the arc. He made 10-of-11 free-throw attempts.
Noteworthy
- Klay Thompson's 60 points in less than 30 minutes are the most points scored in that amount of time ever. Larry Bird previously held that distinction, as he scored 43 in under 30 minutes on March 18, 1986.
- Paul George earned his second double-double of the season.
- The Pacers' 142 points allowed were the most they've given up since Dec. 26, 1990.
Up Next
The Blue & Gold have a day off before playing the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on Wednesday night. Tipoff is set for 9:00 PM ET and you can catch the action on Fox Sports Indiana.
Tickets
The Pacers return home on Saturday, Dec. 10, when they will host the Portland Trail Blazers at 7:00 PM ET. Saturday's game is also the second "Decade Game" of the season, and we'll be honoring Pacers players and staffers from the 1970s during the game. All fans in attendance will receive a bobblehead of either Hall of Famer Mel Daniels or Pacers legend George McGinnis. Find Tickets »