Giannis Antetokounmpo put Klay Thompson among the best shooters he has played with and joked about his heavily wrapped wrist after the Miami Heat’s 117-116 overtime win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night.
Thompson scored 30 points, made 8 of 17 3-pointers and hit the winner with one second left in overtime.
Antetokounmpo said every Thompson shot feels like it is going in. “Just being his teammate, it’s fun to play with,” he said.
“I’ve played with great shooters, but probably Klay got to be up there, right?” he said. “Top four.”
On the final play, Antetokounmpo credited the play call and his teammates. “Great screen by Bam and great shot by Klay,” he said. “Bam was able to get him wide open.”
Antetokounmpo had 27 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, two steals and three blocks in 41 minutes. His two free throws put Miami up 107-106 with 10.8 seconds left in regulation.
Giannis Antetokounmpo wrist update
Asked about his wrist, which was more heavily wrapped than in the Lakers game, Antetokounmpo pointed to his 11-of-13 night at the free-throw line.
“I made my free throws,” he said. Asked if he would keep it wrapped, he added: “Perfect. This going to be my thing. I might play like this tomorrow.”
Asked how it happened, he said, “[Udonis Haslem] came to practice,” and “we were like fighting.” He did not say how long it might bother him.
‘You fight, good things happen’
Miami trailed by 20 in the second quarter and by 10 with 4 1/2 minutes left in regulation before a 9-0 run.
“We fought,” Antetokounmpo said. “Sometimes, you fight, good things happen. The basketball gods reward you, and this was one of those nights.”
He said the Heat’s trust on defense was “fading away” in the second quarter, when the Clippers outscored them 43-19, before a halftime talk. Los Angeles scored 20 points in each of the third and fourth quarters.
“Somebody drove, the next guy was out. Somebody box out, the next guy was able to get the rebound,” Antetokounmpo said. “Our trust was a lot better this game.”
He said the effort on defense late in the game takes a toll. “If you want something … or you want to win, it’s going to be hard. It’s not going to be easy,” Antetokounmpo said. “And I’ve known this my whole career. So I expect hard.”
Antetokounmpo said the team was challenged “after the LA game,” when “we didn’t play hard enough.”
“I’ve been challenged by my coach. I’ve been challenged by my team. I challenged myself,” he said. “Great teams and great players always find a way to respond.”
He said someone has to “set the tone,” whether it is him, Bam Adebayo or Davion Mitchell. “That’s what I was trying to do,” Antetokounmpo said.
Miami (3-5) has won three of four after an 0-4 start. The Heat play at Golden State on Thursday at 10 p.m. ET.
