The Klay Thompson experiment isn’t quite working out as the Mavericks had hoped.
In his first season away from Golden State, Thompson is scoring 13 points per game on a career-low 38.9 percent from the field and 36.6 percent from three.
And there’s reason to believe his play on the court is getting worse, not better, as he acclimates to Dallas.
Over his last eight games, Thompson is down to just 10.8 points per game on 34.8 percent from three and 34.9 overall with a four-game absence due to a foot injury mixed in.
Dallas head coach Jason Kidd has dropped his minutes to just 23.5 per game over the last eight, signaling that either he’s losing trust in the veteran or they’re trying to give him more rest.
It’s not getting any easier on Tuesday night when the Mavericks take on the Thunder in the NBA Cup quarterfinals.
With a roster full of young, athletic wings, Oklahoma City is one of the best teams in the NBA at defending the three.
The Thunder are allowing the fifth-fewest threes per game (12.6) and the second-lowest three-point percentage (33.3 percent).
When the Mavericks took on the Thunder in OKC last month, Thompson was a virtual no-show, scoring just five points in 25 minutes on 1-of-11 shooting and 1-of-8 from three.
He’d go out with the foot injury just five days later, and since returning earlier this month, Thompson has yet to play over 25 minutes in a game.
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Oddsmakers have apparently caught on, pegging his point total at 12.5.
But against this Thunder team, even that is a stretch.
It’s time to start fading the future Hall of Famer.
The play: Klay Thompson fewer than 12.5 points (-117, Caesars Sportsbook)
