NBA: Klay Thompson turns back clock as Mavericks blast Wizards

Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson (31) gestures after scoring a 3-point basket against Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Klay Thompson drained seven 3-pointers in the first quarter on the way to a game-high 23 points and the Dallas Mavericks handed the visiting Washington Wizards a 14th straight loss with a 130-108 blowout in the NBA on Monday.

It was a rout from the start, as Dallas needed just 6:13 to open up a 24-5 lead before going into the second quarter up 42-16.

The Mavericks led by as many as 38 in the first half, doing so when P.J. Washington canned a triple with 5:47 to go until the break to make it 63-25.

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Dallas coach Jason Kidd was able to get his reserves plenty of floor time due to the lopsided nature of the contest. Second-year man Olivier-Maxence Prosper took full advantage of the opportunity and matched a career high with 20 points.

Washington ended up with 19 points, former Wizard Daniel Gafford paired 18 with eight boards and Kyrie Irving collected 13 points for the Mavericks, who had assists on 39 of their 49 field goals. Spencer Dinwiddie dished out nine of those helpers.

Thompson headlined a 20-for-45 performance from beyond the arc for Dallas (44.4 percent). The Wizards made 11 of 37 3-point attempts (29.7 percent).

Even though Thompson was on a roll from deep in the first quarter, he didn’t sink a triple over the final three frames. Reserve Jaden Hardy chipped in 12 points for the hosts.

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Bilal Coulibaly led the Wizards with 16 points. Jordan Poole and Corey Kispert each added 15 points, with Poole also supplying six boards and six assists. Tristan Vukcevic was the only other Washington scorer in double figures, finishing with 10 points.

Kyle Kuzma, Washington’s second-leading scorer entering Monday, managed just seven points on 3-of-11 shooting from the floor.

The Wizards scored seven of the final 11 points of the second quarter to get within 73-43 at the break. They were down 101-76 entering the fourth and never seriously threatened Dallas over the final 12 minutes of action. –Field Level Media