According to Kendra Andrews of ESPN, Stephen Curry had to calm Klay Thompson down on the Golden State Warriors bench during the team’s loss to the Phoenix Suns.
Thompson didn’t play well versus the Suns, and he was benched by Warriors head coach Steve Kerr to close out the fourth quarter.
“As Thompson made his way around the bench during the subsequent timeout, when he was subbed out of the game, he was yelling and continuously pacing, throwing towels on the ground and needing Curry to talk him down,” Andrews, who covers the Warriors for ESPN, wrote.
Thompson finished with seven points and five rebounds versus the Suns while shooting 2-of-10 from the field, 1-of-8 from beyond the arc and 2-of-2 from the free-throw line in 27 minutes.
The Warriors, who lost to the Suns by only three points, finished the game with Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Chris Paul, Jonathan Kuminga and Dario Saric.
Thompson is laboring this season for the Warriors. The four-time champion is averaging 15.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 39.7% from the field, 34.3% from beyond the arc and 88.9% from the foul line.
“I deserved to be benched tonight,” Thompson said after the Warriors lost to the Suns. “I played like crap. If you’ve ever played basketball before, you know what you’re capable of. You always want to be out there competing. That’s just facts. Whatever though. It happens. I deserved to be benched. I’ve been playing like crap.”
The Warriors are 10-13 on the season. They are in 11th place in the Western Conference standings.
Curry is the only player on the Warriors averaging over 20.0 points per game. The two-time MVP is averaging 29.1 points.
“We need everybody to play at a level that we expect. When it doesn’t happen, we lose,” Curry said after the Warriors-Suns game. “It’s pretty simple. That’s the predicament we’re in. We all have to play better together, individually we have to play better. Whatever you’re asked to do — whatever minutes, whatever rotation you’re in, be prepared to adapt.”
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