Klay Thompson looks terrific in return, reaches 12,000 points and 1,800 3s as Warriors hit 30-win mark

Thompson is the fastest player in history not named Stephen Curry to reach 1,800 3-pointers

Klay Thompson's return to the NBA on Sunday, after two-and-a-half years rehabbing a torn ACL and ruptured Achilles tendon, was, by any estimation, a rousing success. In the Warriors' 96-82 win over the visiting Cavaliers, Thompson finished with 17 points on 7-of-18 shooting, including 3 of 8 from 3, in 19 minutes. 

He also passed 12,000 points and 1,800 made 3-pointers for his career. 

Only Stephen Curry has reached the latter mark faster. 

It didn't take Thompson long to get on the board. Less than 40 seconds into the game, he curled around a screen and turned the corner downhill for a tough double-clutch floater on his first attempt. 

In his second stint of playing time, Thompson erased a lot of doubt as to whether he'll be the same athletically after these injuries by throwing down a monster dunk off the dribble. 

Moments later, Thompson hit his first 3-pointer to surpass the aforementioned 12,000 career-point barrier. 

Thompson finished the first half with seven points on 3-of-9 shooting, then immediately came out and hit a pair of self-created midrange jumpers and another 3 to start the second half. 

Just before he was removed from the game for good, he hit another 3 and left to a raucous standing ovation. The takeaway here is pretty simple: Thompson looked a lot like the player we remember. He moved well off the ball. He made plays off the dribble. That dunk and those plant-and-pull midrange jumpers were incredibly encouraging in terms of where Thompson's legs are, and he was effective when tested defensively. 

The Warriors became the second team to reach 30 wins (joining Phoenix) and they did it without Draymond Green being in the lineup and Thompson merely getting his feet wet. Give Thompson a month to get into full condition and rhythm and this team is going to be a serious problem come the playoffs. 

[Jan 9, 2022 at 10:26 pm ET · Brad Botkin]

Cleveland making it a game again

[Jan 9, 2022 at 10:08 pm ET · Brad Botkin]

Getting out of hand in Golden State. Thompson's return has palpably energized team

[Jan 9, 2022 at 10:03 pm ET · Brad Botkin]

Interrupting this live blog to bring you one of the most absurd blocked shots in the history of human existence

[Jan 9, 2022 at 10:01 pm ET · Brad Botkin]

Warriors starting to pull away

[Jan 9, 2022 at 9:53 pm ET · Brad Botkin]

Thompson comes out in the second half on fire. Hits two 3-pointers, up to 13 for the game

[Jan 9, 2022 at 9:26 pm ET · Brad Botkin]

What a monster jam for Klay

[Jan 9, 2022 at 9:26 pm ET · Brad Botkin]

KLAY!!!!!!!