The Warriors advanced to the Western Conference finals on Friday with a 110-96 win over the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 6, and appropriately, three words summed up the main reason why: Game 6 Klay.
Ever since he saved the Warriors’ season in 2016 with a 41-point performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals, the myth of Game 6 Klay has carried on.
And it continued Friday. Thompson dropped 30 points and was 8-of-14 from 3-point range, including a three with under three minutes left to push the Warriors’ lead to 105-92. That was essentially the dagger, and then Thompson showed the world exactly who he is by turning around, doing the “three” goggles and then holding up six fingers -- five on one hand, one on the other.
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In Thompson’s last six Game 6 appearances entering Friday, he averaged 27.8 points and shot better than 53 percent from beyond the arc, according to NBA.com.
He outdid even those numbers to send the Grizzlies home.
Related: Twitter reacts to Game 6 Klay catching fire in first half
Golden State Warriors
It’s been a long road back to meaningful playoff basketball for Thompson, but this is where he thrives. And despite his return from two years off being a little rocky at times this season, Thompson has hit his stride when it matters most -- and that’s in a Game 6 close-out game.
And when he held up six fingers, that had to be a scary sight for whoever the Warriors draw next in the conference finals.