Chase Center has never hosted a playoff game, but we’ve got a good preview of how it could feel this week. Three days after losing an intense heartbreaker to the Phoenix Suns, the Warriors were actually able to close out the victory Saturday night. Once again, a playoff atmosphere permeated throughout the building.
Using a salvo from Klay Thompson and a lightning-quick run in the fourth quarter, Golden State topped the Utah Jazz 111-107 to officially clinch a playoff spot.
There’s only one way Klay is going to escape a slump: by shooting his way out of it. That’s the tactic he employed Saturday night, as he hoisted a season-high 28 shots en route to 36 points.
“I just know I can flip a switch like that,” Thompson said. “I told [assistant coach] Kenny Atkinson I feel like I was going to have a big night tonight and it came to fruition. I’m happy it did.”
Thompson caught fire in the fourth quarter in particular during an 80-second stretch. He knocked down a trio of 3-pointers in that span. Coupled with another trifecta from Andrew Wiggins and it added up to a quick 18-0 run that helped wipe out a fourth-quarter Jazz lead that ballooned as big as 16 points.
"Dub Nation loves Klay unconditionally,” Gary Payton II said. “I know that gets him going, they get him going."
Jordan Poole added an exclamation mark with his go-ahead 3-pointer with 3:33 left and the Warriors were finally able to close out a victory – something that’s evaded them lately. Chase Center was an absolute madhouse by the end of the comeback.
But the night belonged to Klay.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr has been very open about how Klay is forcing the issue on offense. Kerr said the team is trying to get Klay to be more patient, pass the ball and let it come back to him for an open shot. While Thompson might not have heeded that advice and been a bit trigger-happy Saturday, it was for good reason. He shook off a slow start to knock down 50 percent of his shots (14-of-28) and eight 3-pointers, including 24 points in the second half while playing 39 minutes.
“Early on I thought he was a little impatient,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “I didn’t think the game started that well for him. But I thought he got into a groove with a few of his mid-range shots and found a little rhythm in both halves. We’ve seen it a million times, if Klay sees the ball go through the hoop a couple of times, he can make the bad ones, too.”
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Thompson had been scuffling in particular the past month, as he shot just 40.2 percent from the field and 34.4 percent from 3-point land in March. Saturday’s explosion, more than anything, provided him a sense of relief. Klay admitted that he was initially down about his 5-for-21 stinker on Wednesday against the Suns that produced 13 points.
“I knew this year would have its ups and downs,” Thompson said. “I just told myself yesterday, it’s one game, I’ll move on.”
Thompson also discussed Utah’s decision to continually let Rudy Gobert drop down in the paint instead of challenging shooters.
“That’s not very smart,” Thompson said. “I’m not going to say I’m not explosive to the rim, but I just need to chop my feet and rise up when I have that much space.”
Like Chase Center, Poole is awaiting to make his playoff debut. He doesn’t know what the crowd will be like in a couple weeks when the first round starts, but he hopes it’s as loud as it was in the fourth quarter Saturday night.
“You love to play in an environment like that,” Poole said. “Chase was amazing. Amazing when everybody’s on their feet. I know it’s hard to play if you’re the opposing team. Hopefully they can keep the energy up.”
