In the long history of the NBA, there have been many nights where a star player caught fire and left the opposition helpless. Few performances, however, have been as memorable or as surreal as Klay Thompson’s 60-point game against the Indiana Pacers on December 5, 2016. Nearly a decade later, former Pacers guard Jeff Teague has provided a hilarious and brutally honest retelling of what it was like to be on the receiving end of Thompson’s historic barrage.

Speaking on his podcast, Teague admitted that the Pacers were not only overwhelmed by Klay’s hot hand but also completely unaware of how bad things had gotten until they learned his point total at halftime. The reaction in the Indiana locker room was one of disbelief, frustration, and even a little comic panic.

The Context: Warriors at Their Peak

The game took place during the 2016–17 NBA season, when the Golden State Warriors were the undisputed juggernaut of the league. With Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson, the Warriors had assembled one of the most formidable rosters in basketball history. At the time, they were already off to a blazing start, winning 18 of their first 21 games.

It was always expected that any one of their stars could erupt on a given night. On December 5, it was Klay’s turn. The Pacers, who entered the game with playoff ambitions of their own, soon realized they had walked into a storm they were utterly unprepared for.

Klay Thompson Lights Up the First Half

From the opening tip, Thompson was in rhythm. He scored 17 points in the first quarter, connecting on eight of his 12 shot attempts, while Golden State piled up 38 points. For Indiana, it was a manageable deficit—they trailed, but not so badly that panic set in.

But the second quarter told a different story. Thompson elevated his game to an entirely new level, torching the Pacers with 23 more points before halftime. By the break, Klay had racked up 40+ points, and the Warriors were pulling away.

That was the moment, Teague revealed, when the reality of Thompson’s scoring onslaught hit home.

Teague’s Hilarious Retelling of the Moment

Recalling the chaos of that night, Jeff Teague described how the Pacers were initially unaware of just how many points Klay had piled up.

“I couldn’t believe it ’cause we were only down by 14 (points) and coach was like, ‘Somebody put a fucking hand up.’ He was like, ‘He got 42!’” Teague laughed as he told the story. “We’re like, ‘What the f—k! It’s the second quarter.’ PG (Paul George) was like, ‘I got him. I don’t give a f—k, I got him.’ Sixty.”

Teague’s retelling highlights the disbelief and confusion within the Pacers’ ranks. They thought they were still within striking distance, only to realize that one man—Klay Thompson—had already buried them.

A Night of Pure Scoring Genius

Thompson’s final stat line was remarkable: 60 points in just 29 minutes of play, one of the most efficient scoring explosions in NBA history. Even more mind-boggling was the fact that he dribbled the ball only 11 times the entire game. His performance was a masterclass in movement without the ball, catch-and-shoot precision, and playing within the Warriors’ free-flowing offense.

The Pacers, for their part, had no answers. They scrambled defensively, tried to contest harder, and even switched matchups, but nothing slowed Klay down. By the time Paul George vowed to guard him personally, the damage was already done.

The Embarrassment of Indiana’s Defense

Teague’s account also shines a light on how helpless Indiana felt during the game. Players were hesitant to step up, unsure how to contest without leaving gaps elsewhere, and frustrated at the futility of their defensive rotations.

“When a player gets into that kind of rhythm, it feels like nothing you do matters,” Teague explained. “You contest, he still hits. You switch, he still gets open. And once you realize he’s already at 40 before halftime, it just messes with your head.”

The Pacers’ struggles weren’t unique—many teams during the Warriors’ dynasty years felt the same—but Klay’s 60-piece left an especially embarrassing mark on Indiana, who had no defensive adjustment that worked.

Klay’s Dominance Over the Pacers That Season

What makes the story even more intriguing is that this wasn’t Klay’s first time punishing Indiana that year. In their earlier matchup that season, Thompson had already dropped 25 points in just 26 minutes during a Warriors blowout victory. That game was so lopsided that he sat much of the second half, but it still served as a warning that the Pacers couldn’t contain him.

The 60-point game, however, cemented his dominance over Indiana. The way he scored—effortlessly and without overdribbling—made the Pacers’ defense look lost and unprepared.

The Warriors’ Statement to the League

For Golden State, the performance was another reminder of the frightening arsenal they had at their disposal. With Curry and Durant capable of 50-point nights, Green anchoring the defense, and Thompson able to explode at any moment, the Warriors seemed untouchable.

That season, Golden State would go on to win 67 games and cap their campaign with a dominant playoff run, finishing with the 2017 NBA championship after losing only one postseason game. Klay’s 60-point night was just one chapter in their storybook season.

The Legacy of Klay’s 60

Klay Thompson’s 60 points remain one of the most iconic single-game performances in NBA history. Not only because of the sheer number, but because of the efficiency—he played less than 30 minutes, barely touched the ball in isolation, and still dominated the game.

For the Pacers, it was a night of humiliation, but for the NBA at large, it was a showcase of one of the league’s greatest shooters at the peak of his powers. Teague’s comedic retelling years later only adds to the legend, painting a vivid picture of just how stunned Indiana was as Thompson rained down jumper after jumper.

Conclusion

Klay Thompson’s 60-point game against the Indiana Pacers wasn’t just another scoring outburst—it was a performance so efficient, so unstoppable, that even the opposing players couldn’t quite process what was happening in real time. Jeff Teague’s hilarious story of hearing “He got 42?!” from his coach midway through the game perfectly captures the bewilderment that Indiana felt.

It was the kind of night that defines NBA legends: Thompson in rhythm, the Warriors in full flow, and the opposition left powerless. Years later, fans still talk about that game not just as a statistical marvel, but as one of the purest demonstrations of shooting brilliance in league history.