Klay Thompson is grateful to have firm support from his Miami Heat colleagues following his strong performance in the team's NBA Cup win over the Indiana Pacers on Friday night.
Thompson got off to a slow start to his stint in Miami, being cold with his shooting from beyond the arc. He finally caught fire against Indiana, finishing with 25 points and three assists. He shot 9-of-14 from the field, including 7-of-12 from downtown. The veteran sharpshooter reflected on his performance after the game, expressing his thanks to head coach Erik Spoelstra and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“It's amazing to hear that from both Coach and Giannis. I mean, it's a huge reason why I'm here is to play with a talent like Giannis and help him hopefully do what he's done before. That's win a championship and an MVP trophy, and Spo defined my role very clearly when the season started. Just to play hard-nosed defense and space the floor and give our best players room to operate,” Thompson said, per reporter Zachary Weinberger.
“And I thought I did a good job of that tonight, and something I'm definitely gonna build on. And I'm just really happy with the patience I showed tonight. I didn't force any bad looks. Really, I might have taken one or two heat checks, but they all felt good. I felt like my legs were underneath me, and it's something I can build on.”
Klay Thompson on the support from Giannis Antetokounmpo and Erik Spoelstra after his big game:
“It's amazing to hear that from both Coach and Giannis. I mean, it's a huge reason why I'm here is to play with a talent like Giannis and help him hopefully do what he's done before.… pic.twitter.com/Dnnjr78vXg
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 31, 2026
How Klay Thompson, Heat played against Pacers
Klay Thompson balled out as the Heat cruised to a convincing 145-125 win over the Pacers to start NBA Cup action.
Article Continues BelowSix players scored in double-digits for Miami in the win, including Antetokounmpo. He led the squad with a stat line of 31 points, 18 rebounds, 10 assists, and one block. He shot 13-of-19 from the field, including 1-of-2 from beyond the arc, and 4-of-6 from the free-throw line. Bam Adebayo came next with 27 points and nine rebounds, while Pelle Larsson put up 18 points and three rebounds. Meanwhile, Davion Mitchell provided 15 points and 11 assists.
Miami improved to a 2-4 record this season, sitting at 10th place in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks while trailing the Orlando Magic and the Washington Wizards.
The Heat will look forward to their next matchup, being on the road. They take on the Los Angeles Lakers as tip-off commences on Nov. 2 at 10 p.m. ET.

