NBA: Klay Thompson comes off the bench for first time in 12 years to score season-high 35 points

Klay Thompson scored a season-high 35 points in his first appearance from the bench in 12 years as the Golden State Warriors beat the Utah Jazz 140-137.

Thompson, 34, had not been left out of the starting line-up since he was a rookie with Golden State in 2012 – a run of 727 regular-season starts.

He also became the 153rd player in NBA history to reach 15,000 career points.

“Klay coming off the bench gives us a lot of firepower,” coach Steve Kerr said.

“We’ll give it a little look and see where it goes from there.

“He handled everything beautifully. The way he came out, determined and competitive, that’s not easy, to come off the bench for the first time in [more than] 11 years. It’s difficult.

“But Klay is a champion. He’s one of the most competitive people I’ve ever met. He responded accordingly and played a great game.”

Introduced seven minutes into the first quarter, Thompson scored 17 points in 12 minutes to give Golden State an 84-71 lead at half-time.

He is the sixth player in Warriors franchise history to reach the milestone of 15,000 points, joining Stephen Curry, Wilt Chamberlain, Rick Barry, Paul Arizin and Chris Mullin.

“Throughout the game, when I’m running with the second unit, I realised I might be more of a focal point to the offense,” Thompson said.

“That’s a fun role to play. I just wanted to take it upon myself to prove to coach [Steve Kerr] that I was going to respond like the champ I am.”

The Warriors sit 10th in the Western Conference after bouncing back from defeat at home against the Los Angeles Clippers, while the Jazz are 11th and have lost four games in succession.

Elsewhere, the Memphis Grizzlies claimed a shock 113-110 victory against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Ziaire Williams scored a career-high 27 points and rookie GG Jackson, 19, chipped in with 27 from the bench to help the Grizzlies, placed 13th in the Western Conference, to prevail against a Bucks side sitting third in the Eastern.

“It’s the best I’ve ever shot in my life,” Jackson said. “Once you have your jump shot, it opens everything else.”

There was further misery for the Portland Trail Blazers on home territory as the Minnesota Timberwolves recorded a 128-91 win.

Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards scored 34 points to extend the Trail Blazers’ losing streak to six.