Klay Thompson expressed relief after overcoming last season's disappointing performance to aid the Dallas Mavericks in their victory on Wednesday. The Mavericks dominated the second quarter, securing a 120-106 win over the Sacramento Kings, setting up a clash with the Memphis Grizzlies. Thompson contributed significantly, scoring 16 of his 23 points in that quarter, shooting 8-of-11 and hitting 5-of-7 from beyond the arc.

Thompson's performance was a stark contrast to his previous year's game when he missed all 10 shots in a play-in loss for the Golden State Warriors, also in Sacramento. Reflecting on this improvement, Thompson said during an ESPN SportsCenter interview, "It did feel good to exorcise those demons in here. Man!"

Dallas surged ahead with a remarkable second quarter, scoring 44 points and establishing control over the game. Thompson had a scoreless first quarter but found his rhythm alongside his team. "I wasn't going to define myself off one bad shooting night," Thompson stated. He acknowledged having some of the greatest shooting nights historically and emphasised perseverance despite occasional setbacks.The Kings suffered their worst point differential in a quarter this season as they were outscored 44-19 by Dallas. Their previous worst was against Oklahoma City Thunder on February 1 when they were outscored by 22 points in the second quarter.Thompson's impressive plus/minus of +30 in the first half marked his best performance this season. His ability to bounce back from past disappointments highlights his resilience and determination to succeed on the court.