Will the stars align for another storybook Game 6 Klay performance?
By now, the storyline is a bit worn out, but the stage is set for Klay Thompson to have a monster bounceback game in a key moment for the Warriors Friday against the Lakers in Game 6.
Before heading to Crypto.com Arena for Games 3 and 4 of the second-round series, Klay said he couldn’t wait for the opportunity to play in the stadium he visited as a kid, watching Kobe Bryant grow up. Thompson struggled in both of the losses, including two bad bricks in the final moments of Game 4.
If Klay could rebound in Game 6 at The Crypt, it’d be a chef’s kiss way to force a Game 7 back in San Francisco.
The legend of Game 6 Klay was cemented with his 41-point performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2016 Western Conference Finals. As Draymond Green recalled on Wednesday night, the Warriors could find themselves in a similar scenario Friday in LA – on the road facing a 3-2 deficit.
LeBron and the Lakers aren’t going to make it easy.
Seven years ago, the Warriors faced a similar situation (down 3-2) heading into OKC. Asked Draymond Green how much he can draw from that experience in 2023: pic.twitter.com/0Htzjte3bR
— Evan Giddings (@egiddings10) May 11, 2023
“We all look to that experience when our backs are against the wall,” Draymond said. “Just understanding, like that OKC game didn't go our way the whole game. If I remember correctly we were down like 15 points or something in the third quarter and Klay went ape shit. You just got to keep fighting and knowing that this team is going to come out and give us their best punch and you got to take that punch and respond.”
While Klay struggled again in Game 5, going 3-of-12 from the field for 10 points, it’s not like he’s been in a rut all series. Klay was the star of Game 2, nailing 8-of-11 3-pointers while pacing the Warriors to a 27-point blowout victory.
In Game 6 against the Kings last round, Klay went 8-of-20 for 22 points in a humbling 19-point loss in a clinching scenario. The last time we saw a Game 6 Klay explosion was in last year’s matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies, when he lit up Chase Center with eight 3-pointers and 30 points.
Another layer to the intrigue could be added if Andrew Wiggins is unable to play due to a rib fracture. Wiggins popped up on the team’s injury report Thursday and will be questionable. Two-way Wiggs showed up in Game 5 and dropped 25 points as the second-leading scorer behind Steph Curry. If Wiggins can’t play, the need for Thompson and Jordan Poole to provide scoring will be even higher.
“I do think he's due for a big shooting night,” Draymond said of Klay. “You are talking about a guy who is one of the, arguably one of the greatest shooters ever that we've ever seen. He steps up in big moments. So tonight he wasn't able to get his shot going, but defensively he was all over the place. And then his presence on the floor, regardless of if he's making or missing shots you're going to guard him like he's making shots because if he hits one you know the flurry can come.”
