Golden State Warriors: Klay Thompson sets record for threes in a game

The Golden State Warriors defeat the Chicago Bulls, 149-124, as Klay Thompson makes an NBA-record 14 three-pointers

The Golden State Warriors started the season with a bang, winning six of their first seven games. Riding a four-game winning streak, the Warriors came to Chicago to face the Chicago Bulls.

Early in the season, the Warriors have already gotten signature games from Stephen Curry (51 points against the Washington Wizards) and Kevin Durant (41 points against the New York Knicks, scoring 25 points in the fourth quarter).

The one player notably absent from the party had been Klay Thompson. The four-time All-Star had a great pre-season, but then inexplicably lost his shooting touch once the season started.

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Through seven games, Thompson had made just five of 36 three-pointers, a 14% success rate. Thompson was visibly frustrated with his poor shooting and appeared to be pressing.

But Thompson is an eight-year veteran and a proven scorer, so it was only a matter of time before he broke out of his slump. And boy, did he ever break out, in a record-setting way.

Against the Bulls, Thompson got off to a quick start, hitting his first four shots, including three triples. By the end of the first quarter, Thompson had scored 22 of the Warriors’ 44 points, with six three-pointers.

In the second quarter, the Bulls did their best impersonation of the Washington Generals, as the Warriors outscored them 48-22. Thompson continued his scoring barrage, finishing the half with 36 points with ten three-pointers.

The Warriors were up 92-50 at the half. The Warriors 17 three-pointers in the first half was an NBA record, and their 92 points was the second most points in a first half in NBA history.

With the game’s outcome already determined, any records would have to be broken in the third quarter, as coach Steve Kerr doesn’t play his starters in the fourth quarter unless absolutely necessary.

Early in the third quarter Thompson bumped heads with teammate Damian Jones. With blood running down his forehead, Thompson quickly made his 11th and 12th three-pointers.

Sporting a yellow headband to cover his wound, Thompson then took a pass from Steph Curry to make his 13th three-pointer, tying Curry for the most three-pointers in a game. (Curry had set the record on 11/7/2016 against the New Orleans Pelicans.)

With the record close at hand, Thompson’s teammates were actively trying to get the ball to him. With the Chicago crowd oohing and ahhing with every attempt, Thompson finally took a pass from Kevin Durant and made his 14th three-pointer at the 4:53 mark as the Warrior bench went wild in celebration.

Garbage time started with four minutes left in the third quarter. The Warriors bench closed out the game, 149-124, as the Bulls never threatened.

Stephen Curry contributed 23 points and Kevin Durant scored 14 points, but the night belonged to Klay Thompson. In total, Thompson made 18-29 field goals and 14-24 three-point shots for 52 points.

Draymond Green added 11 assists and three blocks. Alfonzo McKinnie, a Chicago native, scored a career-high 19 points in front of friends and family.

The Golden State Warriors were already chugging along this season without Klay Thompson hitting his shots. Now that Thompson is back on track, the Warriors look as unbeatable as they’ve ever been.