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Stephen Curry (36) scored 37 points as the Golden State Warriors spoiled Klay Thompson's (34) return to the Bay Area with a thrilling 120-117 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in the opening round of the NBA Cup on Tuesday.
Thompson - a beloved member of four NBA championship-winning Golden State teams before joining Dallas in July - received a rapturous welcome in his first game back in San Francisco since his departure. He was given a guard of honour by cheering Golden State staff upon his arrival at the Chase Center before fans wearing nautical caps roared their appreciation for the player who famously used to commute to work in his fishing boat.
But despite delighting the home crowd with six three-pointers in a 22-point haul, Thompson was upstaged by former teammate Curry who produced a stunning fourth-quarter performance to drag the Warriors over the line. The Mavericks looked poised to snatch victory after battling into a six-point lead at 114-108 with just over three minutes remaining. But Curry then took over with 10 unanswered points - including one sensational step-back three from 28 feet - to put Golden State into a 118-114 lead, before adding two late free throws to seal the win. "There was a lot of emotion but both teams wanted to win," Curry told TNT television. "It was a play-off-like atmosphere, with great players making great plays. That's why we love the competition."
Thompson meanwhile said it had felt "surreal" lining up against his former teammate. "We've guarded each other plenty of times in practice for Team USA or All-Star Games, but a competitive NBA game - it was pretty surreal," Thompson said. "It hurts to be on the other side of one of his flurries. Guy got hot at the end and made some ridiculous shots. It sucks."
