mymotherlode
MIAMI (AP) — Klay Thompson is heading back to California, and he appears to be bringing his shooting stroke with him.
Thompson's early-season struggles seem to be behind him after he drained seven 3-pointers — five of them in a blistering seven-minute stretch of the third quarter that broke the game open — to help the Miami Heat defeat the Indiana Pacers 145-125 on Friday night.
In his first five games with the Heat, Thompson was shooting just 32% from beyond the arc. But after a 7-for-12 performance from deep, that number has climbed to 39%.
"It wasn't the best start to the season," Thompson said after recording the 54th regular-season game of his career with at least seven 3-pointers. "But to come out here and play with poise and confidence, I knew I was due for a night like this."
It's early in the season, and statistics can be skewed by small sample sizes, but that third-quarter explosion was exactly what Miami had been waiting to see.
"He has an exponential possibility factor for this team, and you can see why," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "He always will provide the gravity, but he is the definition of ignitable. When he gets on a roll like that, he is really tough to stop. We've all seen it or been on the other end of it. But it was fun seeing it in a Miami Heat jersey."
Heat forward Giannis Antetokounmpo was more concise.
"It's like throwing a rock into the ocean," Antetokounmpo said. "It's fun to watch. It's fun to witness greatness. He's one of the best shooters of all time."
Thompson found his form just in time, as the Heat begin a five-game road trip on Monday, with the first four games set to be played in Thompson's beloved California.
The trip opens with games against the Lakers and Clippers — meaning Thompson will return to his hometown of Los Angeles, where he fell in love with basketball largely because his father, Mychal, was playing for the Lakers.
The journey then continues in Golden State, where Thompson won four championships as part of the "Splash Brothers" duo with Warriors sharpshooter Stephen Curry.
From there, the Heat move on to Sacramento, a city where Thompson won a high school state title in 2008 by making seven 3-pointers — a California boys state final record.
"I love going to LA," Thompson said. "I love seeing my parents, my brothers, my niece and nephew. And then, you go up the interstate and go to the Bay, and all the memories I was able to make up there are second to none. I'll see so many guys I grew up with, and I want to beat them bad; we're all still very competitive in our mid-30s, and I love to go compete against them because they're some of my best friends. I just can't wait to go back and see familiar faces — not just the players, but the training staff, the equipment managers, the people who work the stands and the concessions, the custodians. I have friends for life in the Bay and LA, so it's always special."
Key Analysis
Thompson's resurgence comes at an opportune moment for the Heat, who will rely on his scoring and experience during a challenging road swing through California. His ability to heat up quickly from beyond the arc adds a dynamic element to Miami's offense, and his emotional connection to the West Coast could provide an extra spark. As the Heat embark on this trip, Thompson's performance will be closely watched, not only for his shooting but also for the leadership and nostalgia he brings to familiar grounds.
Originally reported by mymotherlode.