Klay Thompson, son of Bahamian basketball legend Mychal “Sweet Bells” Thompson, delivered his strongest performance of the season on Friday, scoring 25 points to lead the Miami Heat to a 145-125 victory over the Indiana Pacers at Kaseya Center in Miami.
The 36-year-old guard shot 9-for-14 from the field and connected on seven of his 12 attempts from three-point range. His performance marked a significant improvement after a slow start to his first season with Miami.
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Thompson was particularly effective in the third quarter, making five three-pointers within a seven-minute stretch to help the Heat establish a commanding lead. Miami entered the final period ahead and eventually extended its advantage to as many as 25 points.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led all scorers with 31 points and recorded a triple-double, adding 18 rebounds and 10 assists. Bam Adebayo contributed 27 points, while Quenton Jackson led Indiana with 24 points and Andrew Nembhard added 22.
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The victory was Miami’s second consecutive win after opening the season with four straight defeats. Thompson’s seven three-pointers also moved him closer to a major NBA milestone. He now has 2,918 career three-pointers, just 55 behind former Heat guard Ray Allen, who ranks third in league history with 2,973. Stephen Curry leads the list with 4,270, followed by James Harden with 3,402.
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“It wasn’t the best start to the season,” Thompson told reporters. “… to come out here and play with poise and confidence, I knew I was due for a night like this.”
The Heat now begin a five-game West Coast road trip, starting against the Los Angeles Lakers on November 2, followed by the LA Clippers on November 4 and the Golden State Warriors on November 5. The trip also includes games against the Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz.
The meeting with Golden State will be a notable return for Thompson, who won four NBA championships with the Warriors as part of the celebrated “Splash Brothers” partnership with Curry.