If you’ve been watching the Dallas Mavericks lately, you’ve probably noticed something weird. It’s Klay Thompson. One night he looks like the guy who once dropped 37 in a quarter, and the next, he’s basically a cardio specialist. Honestly, tracking Klay’s production right now is a total rollercoaster.
The narrative around him is usually pretty binary. Either he’s "washed" or he’s "back." But the reality of Klay Thompson last 5 games tells a way more complicated story about a legend trying to find his legs in a Dallas system that’s currently missing its biggest pieces.
With rookie sensation Cooper Flagg sidelined with a sprained ankle and Anthony Davis out with a hand injury, the Mavs have basically asked Klay to be 2016 Klay again. That’s a tall order for a 35-year-old with more miles on his knees than a long-haul trucker.
The Milestone Week: January 2026
Let’s talk about this past Thursday against the Utah Jazz. Klay didn’t just play well; he made history. He poured in 26 points and nailed six triples. In the process, he passed Damian Lillard for fourth place on the NBA’s all-time made three-pointers list. He’s now at 2,809 makes.
Only Steph, Harden, and Ray Allen are ahead of him now.
It was vintage. He was moving without the ball, finding those pockets of space, and his release looked as lightning-fast as ever. But then you look at the very next game—the rematch against the Jazz on Saturday. He still had 23 points in just 20 minutes and eclipsed the 17,000 career point mark, but the efficiency fluctuates wildly depending on the defensive attention he draws.
Here is the raw breakdown of how he’s actually performed over this recent stretch:
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On January 17th against Utah, he put up 23 points, shooting 6-of-11 from deep in a 138-120 win.
Two days earlier, also against Utah, he had a season-high 26 points and 6 assists.
Then there was the Denver game on January 14th. Just 8 points on 3-of-8 shooting.
Against Brooklyn on January 12th, he was solid: 18 points, 6-of-9 from three.
But the Chicago game on January 10th was a struggle, finishing with 10 points and a painful -19 plus-minus.
Why the Consistency Isn't There
People keep asking why he can't just do the 26-point thing every night. Well, it's not that simple. When you look at Klay Thompson last 5 games, the variance is tied directly to the Mavs' spacing. Without Flagg or Davis on the floor to draw double teams, Klay is often seeing the opponent's best perimeter defender.
Klay isn’t the guy who’s going to blow by people off the dribble anymore. He never really was, but now that half-step of separation is even harder to come by. He’s averaging about 17 points over these last few games, which is a massive jump from his season average of 11.2, but it’s coming on high volume.
Basically, he's being forced to hunt shots.
Coach Jason Kidd mentioned after the first Jazz win that Klay was "in a zone," but "the ball was moving." That’s the key. When the Mavericks' offense stagnates, Klay’s numbers tank. When they move the rock, he looks like a Hall of Famer.
Breaking Down the Shooting Splits
His shooting from deep over this five-game stretch has been surprisingly elite, despite the up-and-down scoring totals.
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- Total 3PM/3PA: 22-of-45
- 3P Percentage: Roughly 48.8%
That is absurdly high. If you told a Mavs fan at the start of the season that Klay would be hitting nearly 50% of his threes over a week-long stretch, they’d be ecstatic. The problem is everything else. When the threes aren't falling, he isn't getting to the free-throw line (he had zero attempts in four of his last five games).
He's becoming the ultimate "boom or bust" player.
The Role Change Nobody Talks About
There’s a misconception that Klay is just a floor spacer in Dallas. Lately, he’s been acting more as a secondary playmaker. Look at those 6 assists against Utah on Thursday. That’s a season-high for him.
With the injuries piling up, Klay is being asked to do more than just "3-and-D." He’s initiating some sets and trying to create for guys like Naji Marshall and Jaden Hardy. It’s a bit of an adjustment. Sometimes it works, and sometimes he ends up with three turnovers in 20 minutes like he did on Saturday.
Is This Performance Sustainable?
Probably not at this volume. Klay is playing about 24 minutes a night right now. His legs seem to hold up for about three games a week, but the back-to-backs are clearly taking a toll. The 8-point dud against Denver came on the second night of a back-to-back.
It’s obvious that his value is currently inflated because the Mavs are so shorthanded. Once Cooper Flagg returns to the lineup, Klay will likely slide back into a more specialized role.
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But for now? He’s the veteran presence keeping a struggling 16-26 Mavericks team from completely bottoming out.
What to Watch For Next
If you're tracking Klay for fantasy or just as a fan, pay attention to the injury report. His usage spikes the moment a starter is ruled out. He's also chasing Ray Allen now. He admitted in a press conference this week that he’s been "chasing Ray" since his rookie year.
That motivation is clearly fueling these high-volume shooting nights.
If you want to see if this "hot streak" is real, look at the upcoming schedule. He’s historically better at home than on the road this season. The Mavs need this version of Klay—the one that passes legends and drops 20+ points—if they want to climb out of the bottom of the Western Conference.
Actionable Insights for Following Klay:
- Monitor Back-to-Backs: Klay’s scoring drops by nearly 40% on the second night of back-to-back games.
- Watch the Assist Numbers: If Klay is recording 3+ assists, it usually means the Mavs' offense is fluid and he’s getting better looks.
- Check the Matchup: He’s struggling against long, athletic wings (like in the Chicago game) but feasting on teams with poor perimeter rotation (like Utah).
- The Flagg Factor: Expect a dip in Klay's shot attempts the moment Cooper Flagg is cleared to play.