Thompson Leads Warriors to Win Over Pistons

Klay Thompson scored 19 of his season-high 27 points in a third quarter that saw him knock down five 3-pointers. (Allen Einstein/NBAE/Getty)

The Warriors were looking to prove to everyone that they were in the elite group of teams. Now, the Warriors are 6-1 record after a loss. This is among some of the NBA superteams like the Thunder and the Heat. Tonight, they got their first road win, improve to 11-7 and beat the Pistons 104-97 after a horrifying 4th quarter.

In the beginning, the Warriors started off hot, and the Pistons retaliated. At the end of the first the game was close at 21-20, with the Warriors on top. The second quarter was back and forth, and although the Pistons had jump-shots falling, neither team really had any kind of offense. It looked like a score at the end of a first quarter. At the break, the lead was 40-38, as an ugly half came to an end.

In the third quarter, the Warriors’ offense finally came alive. Klay Thompson had four points at half time, but he and Stephen Curry exploded in the third. Curry and Thompson scored most of the points in the third quarter, and had the Warriors up nine, but unfortunately, Tayshaun Prince’s 17 points was keeping the Pistons in the game. Not for long, though…

Thompson proceeded to hit five three-pointers in the third quarter, and he had 19 in total. He played defense, limited his defenders, and came up with some huge plays down the stretch to give the Warriors a 15-point lead at 67-52 with four minutes left. Then, it was Stephen Curry who got his steals and tallied 10 fast break points with his great scoring and passing skills. A scary moment, however, happened when ex-Warrior Corey Maggette flipped Harrison Barnes in mid-air.

Thinking the offense would go flat, the Pistons made their move. It wasn’t enough, however, as the Warriors ended the third with a 79-61 lead, as the backcourt exploded.

In this game, the Warriors’ 3rd and 4th quarters switched. Feeling comfortable with an 18-point lead, the Warriors let it go, and the Pistons started the fourth on an 11-2 run. Luckily, the lead was still 17 thanks to Curry and Thompson. Then, they got comfortable again, and the Pistons cut the lead to eight with three minutes left. Their neglectful defense then translated to five Piston points, and the with one minute left. Are you surprised?

In the end, Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry’s free throw shooting made it a seven points game with 15 seconds left, and the Warriors won the game, barely.

The leading scorer was Klay Thompson with a season high 27 points. David Lee and Stephen Curry had both had double doubles, and the Warriors still had to feel confident about the win. Stay tuned for more Warriors news as well as coverage along the road-trip.