Breaking down Klay Thompson’s 27-point quarter, Warriors’ win over Suns

Klay Thompson led a Golden State Warriors eruption against the Phoenix Suns with his 27-point third quarter. He and Stephen Curry had outscored the Suns after three.

After torching the Indiana Pacers for 39 points in 34 minutes on Dec. 8, things began to turn in the opposite direction for Warriors guard Klay Thompson.

The 25-year-old went down with a right ankle sprain, and was held out for the team’s next game, a double-overtime win over the Boston Celtics. He returned the following night against the Milwaukee Bucks, and shot just 4-of-14 in Golden State’s first loss of the season.

On Wednesday, he rebounded in a 128–103 victory over the Suns for the 29th consecutive home win for Golden State.

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Thompson exploded for 27 points in the third quarter to turn what was once a competitive game into a blowout. Through 31 minutes, he knocked down 15 of his 22 shot attempts—including eight three-pointers—and totaled a season-high 43 points. The team as a whole scored 46 in the quarter, which was the highest total in the NBA this season.

He and Stephen Curry outscored Phoenix 68–65 heading to the final period.

Lost in a night dominated by the Splash Brothers was another stellar performance from wing Draymond Green, who recorded his fourth triple double this season just two games after posting the league’s first five-by-five line since 2012, and the 16th in the past 30 years.

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Green joins Guy Rodgers, Rick Barry, Wilt Chamberlain, Chris Mullin, Baron Davis and Curry as the only Warriors to record at least five in their career.

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With the win, the Warriors improved to 25–1. Phoenix fell to 11–16. Next up is a revenge game for Golden State against the Bucks at home on Friday at 10:30 p.m. ET. The Suns host the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday at 10:30.