Vintage Klay Returns: Thompson Drops 22 in 2nd Quarter as Mavericks Cruise Past Lakers in Play-In Thriller
Vintage Klay Returns: Thompson Drops 22 in 2nd Quarter as Mavericks Cruise Past Lakers in Play-In Thriller
Dallas, TX – April 16, 2025
Klay Thompson turned back the clock Tuesday night, delivering a second-quarter explosion that reignited memories of his prime years and helped propel the Dallas Mavericks to a commanding 117–98 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Play-In Tournament.
Thompson, who has been relatively quiet this season, erupted for 22 of his 28 points in the second quarter alone, hitting six threes and leaving the Lakers scrambling for answers. It was his most dominant stretch in a Mavericks uniform and a stark reminder that the sharpshooter still has plenty of firepower when it matters most.
“I just felt good,” Thompson said after the game, a rare grin breaking through his usual calm. “Sometimes the basket feels huge, and tonight was one of those nights.”
The Mavericks, who trailed early, rode Thompson’s outburst to flip the game entirely, entering halftime with a double-digit lead they would never relinquish. Luka Dončić added 31 points and 11 assists, while Dereck Lively II anchored the paint with a career-high five blocks.
But the night belonged to Thompson. His barrage not only electrified the crowd at American Airlines Center but also rattled a Lakers team that looked overwhelmed and disorganized as the momentum shifted.
LeBron James finished with 24 points, but the Lakers shot just 39% from the field and never recovered from Dallas’s second-quarter onslaught.
With the win, the Mavericks advance to secure the seventh seed and a first-round matchup with the Denver Nuggets. More importantly, they’ve sent a clear message: this team can strike fast—and if Klay Thompson heats up like this again, they could be a serious problem in the West.