Klay Thompson ends shooting woes in win over France

RIO DE JANEIRO – Five games into the Rio Olympics, Klay Thompson’s shooting touch finally made it here, too.

Thompson scored a game-high 30 points in the USA’s 100-97 victory over France on Sunday.

“It felt good to see the ball go in, but it felt better to get the win,” Thompson said.

U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski had Thompson in the starting lineup for the first two games of the competition, but Thompson went just 1-for-11, including 0-for-7 on three-pointers, in those two starts.

Looking for more offense, Krzyzewski inserted Paul George into the lineup for the next two games and said he would re-evaluate the starting five before the fifth and final game of group play against France.

What Krzyzewski found was that he needed George’s offense and defense with the second unit, so he put Thompson back in the starting lineup against France, and Thompson delivered with the shooting performance that was expected from one of the NBA’s best shooters.

"You don't have to think twice about not only starting him, but he's one of the best players in the world," Krzyzewski said. “The few times in his life when he's not shooting well, which are few, he always plays defense well, and he always competes. That's what makes him such a great two-way player, and it's what makes him one of the great players in basketball. We're lucky to have him on our team."

Thompson made 7-for-13 three-pointers and scored 15 – all on threes – in the third quarter Sunday, pushing the U.S. to a 78-62 lead.

“I don't care if I shoot 10% the rest of the tournament, as long as we win the gold medal, that's all that really matters,” Thompson said. “But it's something that I can build off, and it definitely helps."

Thompson made the team largely because of his shooting, and if he can continue what he started Sunday, the U.S. offense will be even more difficult to stop.

"Big time. He was bound to find his shot one of these days," Carmelo Anthony said. "He’s one of the best shooters in the world. He works at it. This is what he does. I’m just glad he got it going."

It’s the kind of shooting the U.S. needs from Thompson moving forward.

Follow Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt

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