KEY POINTS

  • Klay Thompson is happy to be back in the NBA Finals since the 2019 season
  • Thompson knows their mission is not over
  • The Warriors will face either the Celtics or Heat in this season's finals

The Golden State Warriors are back in the NBA Finals after bringing down the Dallas Mavericks, 120-110.

It was a well-oiled performance for the Dubs led by Klay Thompson, who finished with 32 points, three assists, and two rebounds in 27 minutes of action.

24 of Thompson’s overall production came from beyond the arc, and the 32-year-old even poked fun at it.

“I mean, I should’ve had 10 threes,” Thompson said after Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals. “I left like three on the board tonight.”

But in the end, the three-time NBA champion started to talk seriously and remained thankful for the support he has gotten from the team.

He also stressed that their work is not yet done since they are entering their first NBA Finals appearance since 2019 and they do have to win four more games to cop the franchise's seventh NBA title.

“I’m so thankful for this team. These guys carried us to an incredible start [this season] and then me coming back in there. I don’t want to get emotional Ernie, I can’t believe we’re back. This is crazy. I’m going to enjoy this tonight. Wow, we’ve still got four more to go, Dub Nation. I’m going to soak this in tonight. I can’t believe it,” Thompson stated.

It has been a tough last two years for the five-time All-Star who went through a couple of harrowing injuries.

Some questioned if he could come back or be the same old Klay Thompson most knew.

The Warriors’ Game 5 win over the Mavericks somehow answered those in doubt.

"They would tell me it'd pay off and it was hard to see that at the time but now to actually be here, I can feel it paying off," Thompson shared as quoted by Sports Illustrated.

Thompson was not the only one who shines for Warriors head coach Steve Kerr as Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green and Jordan Poole led six players from the Dubs in double-digit scoring, fending off the efforts of Luka Doncic and Spencer Dinwiddie.

The Dubs now await the winner of the Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat series.

The Celtics are in a prime position to wrap up that series on Friday, May 27 at the TD Garden in Boston with the tip-off starting at 8:30 p.m. E.T.

Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors
Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors Getty Images | Thearon W. Henderson