📍 Sacramento, CA — April 17, 2025
One year after suffering a crushing playoff exit on the same floor, Klay Thompson found redemption at Golden 1 Center.
In a vintage performance, Thompson scored 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting — including 5-of-7 from three-point range — to help the Dallas Mavericks defeat the Sacramento Kings 120-106 in the Western Conference Play-In Tournament.
Full-Circle Moment for Thompson
Thompson’s last visit to Sacramento ended with him going scoreless in his final game as a Golden State Warrior during a play-in loss to the Kings. This time, he delivered when it mattered most.
“That kind of lifted the lid off the rim for me,” Thompson said, recalling the relief he felt after making his first shot of the second quarter. “It did feel good to exorcise those demons in here.”
While Thompson didn’t publicly discuss the emotional weight with his new teammates, the Mavericks understood the significance of the night.
“We know,” said forward Anthony Davis, who contributed 27 points, nine rebounds, three blocks, and needed four stitches after taking a hit to the mouth. “We know how tough it was for him losing here the last time. The way he played tonight, you could tell it meant a lot to him. We wanted to win it for him.”
Mavericks Advance to Play-In Finale
With the win, Dallas moves on to face the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday for the Western Conference’s final playoff berth. The Mavericks will compete as the No. 8 seed if they win.
“I’m still alive. I’m excited,” Thompson said. “It was really fun tonight because you could just be fully immersed in the experience. We’ve had a tumultuous season — the injury bug has struck us hard — but we’re still here, playing postseason basketball.”
Thompson’s performance capped off a season in which he averaged 14.0 points per game while shooting 39.1% from deep in his first year with the Mavericks.
A Personal Statement of Resilience
Thompson has been open about the emotional challenges of his final season with Golden State, where he often felt undervalued. His scoreless playoff exit remained a painful memory, but Wednesday’s breakout was a reminder of his enduring ability.
“I wasn’t going to define myself off one bad shooting night,” Thompson said. “I’ve had some of the greatest shooting nights in the history of the game. Even someone at my caliber can go 0-for. You try not to think about it, but at times you do, because you’re human. You just keep going out there and do what you love.”
Now, Thompson and the Mavericks are one win away from the main playoff bracket — and after Wednesday’s performance, he looks ready for the challenge.
