In Game 2 of the series against the Houston Rockets, Klay Thompson delivered a statement performance, dropping 34 points and 5 assists while going 15-of-16 from the free-throw line. In what was billed as a showdown between the league’s top two shooting guards — James Harden and Thompson — it was Thompson who stole the show and left no room for debate.

By public opinion and regular-season stats, many would argue that Harden holds the upper hand. But team systems tell a different story, and the contrast between Golden State’s structure and Houston’s is like night and day. In the first quarter, Thompson kept a relatively low profile, adjusting to the leadership role in Steph Curry’s absence — a very different dynamic from being the second option.

But once the second quarter began, Thompson shifted gears. He started with a strong and-one finish at the rim, followed by a clean catch-and-shoot three-pointer from deep. While Curry often headlines Golden State’s perimeter attack, Thompson is equally lethal from beyond the arc. The Rockets’ defense fell apart, giving Thompson wide-open lanes — including a shocking moment when he drove through the middle for a thunderous dunk. Two more free throws brought his single-quarter tally into double digits. With 3:52 left in the half, he hit another three from the top of the arc, sending a message: leave a shooter like him unchecked, and you’ll pay the price.

Later in the half, he assisted Andre Iguodala before intercepting a lazy pass from Harden. Josh Smith was forced to foul him, and Thompson again converted both free throws. By halftime, he had 20 points, 15 of which came in the second quarter alone.

Statistically, Thompson wasn’t particularly hot from three-point range this game, which could have been Houston’s opportunity to clamp down. But the Rockets’ defense was paper-thin, allowing Thompson to score at will in the paint or draw fouls with ease. Despite Harden’s reputation for drawing fouls, it was Thompson who got to the line more — 16 times to Harden’s 15 — and did it without the theatrics. Every whistle was earned through skill, not baiting.

By the final buzzer, Thompson had logged 34 points and 5 assists, outperforming Harden’s 28 points and 11 assists in both scoring and efficiency. In this head-to-head battle of elite shooting guards, Thompson emerged the clear winner.

With the series now at 2-0, the Warriors are just one win away from advancing — a commanding position, especially considering they’ve done it without their MVP. Once Curry returns, it’s safe to say the outcome may be all but written in stone. Jeetbuzz App Download followers can already sense that Golden State’s title defense is firmly back on track.