Klay Thompson exorcises Play-In demons in Dallas Mavericks win; silences doubters with redemption game against Sacramento Kings

Klay Thompson finally put his Play-In tournament demons to rest. A year after one of the worst performances of his career with the Golden State Warriors, the Dallas Mavericks guard delivered a standout game against the Sacramento Kings, proving he still has plenty left in the tank.

Last year, Klay Thompson’s Play-In performance was a nightmare. Playing for the Warriors in a must-win game against the Kings, he went scoreless, missing all 10 of his field goal attempts, including six from three-point range. The loss stuck with him, becoming a painful memory he carried into this season.
Fast forward to Wednesday night, and Thompson got his chance at redemption. Facing the Kings again—this time in a Mavericks uniform—he dropped 23 points on an efficient 8-of-11 shooting, including 5-of-7 from deep. The performance was a stark contrast to his previous outing in Sacramento.

After the game, Klay Thompson didn’t shy away from addressing last year’s struggles. "Man, last time I was here was not very fun," he admitted. He credited his first made shot for setting the tone, saying, "It felt really good because I thought I missed it, but it bounced up out of the air and went in, so that kinda lifted the lid off the rim for me."

The win wasn’t just about stats—it was personal. Thompson acknowledged the emotional weight of the moment, saying, "It’s a lot of emotion. I thought I did a good job of not forcing it. Human nature, when you have a season end on a sour note like that, you want to come out here and prove people wrong."

Though Thompson now wears a Mavericks jersey, his history with the Warriors remains a big part of his story. His redemption against the Kings is something Golden State fans can appreciate, even if he’s no longer on their team. The victory wasn’t just a personal milestone—it was a reminder of Thompson’s resilience and ability to bounce back when it matters most.
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With this performance, Thompson has officially broken his Play-In curse. And for a player who’s faced his share of challenges in recent years, that’s a win worth celebrating.