Curry’s Late Flurry Spoils Klay Thompson’s Return to Golden State

With the NBA season getting into full swing, there have already been several marquee matchups across the league. However, one of the most anticipated was the Mavericks visiting the Warriors in their first matchup of the season.

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

The reason, of course, being that it marked the first time Klay Thompson returned to San Francisco after leaving for the Mavericks last year. It’s always exciting when a star plays their old team, and the game proved to be no exception.

The guard signed a three-year, $50 million deal with Dallas this past offseason in a move that officially cut his ties with the Warriors and ended one of the strongest dynasties in recent memory. Still, the two sides showed they still have some history to make.

A Warm Welcome

While some relationships end in heartache, there is nothing but love between the guard and the Warriors franchise. That was evident before the game on Tuesday night, when fans both inside and outside the arena excitedly welcomed Thompson back to the Chase Center upon the Maverick’s arrival.

Not only did the guard sign plenty of merchandise for the excited fans, but the Warriors also dubbed the game “Salute Captain Klay” night. Those in attendance received a white captain’s hat with the Warriors logo to honor Thompson.

On top of that, the team also played a special tribute video ahead of the game and gave Thompson a huge standing ovation in order to show their appreciation for his role in their four titles. Even those on the court were excited.

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Curry’s Clutch Factor and the Warriors’ Win

Thompson entered Tuesday’s contest averaging 13.8 points a game in addition to 3.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists. He upped that by putting on his best shooting performance of the year, finishing with 22 points on 6-of-12 from three and putting together four rebounds and three assists.

The Mavericks played well together, with all of their stars contributing on the court in some way.

• They strung together several runs, and leaned on Thompson when they needed a big shot or a clutch, long-range three.

Despite that, as usual, Stephen Curry was the star of the show. Though Thompson did a great job for Dallas, the Warriors’ star added 37 points of his own to go with nine assists and six rebounds.

• He was everywhere, consistently dazzling defenders and dishing out smart passes.
• He also led a late rally, going on a 10-0 run by himself to take the lead and secure a 120-117 victory for the home team.

The only other truly notable performance of the night came from Luke Doncic, who added 31 points of his own alongside eight rebounds and six assists. Kyrie Irving had 21 as well, and led a strong 23-9 run to open the fourth quarter before Curry came storming back.

Thompson’s New Home

After another big win, the Warriors continue to silence doubters. They are 9-3 on the season, and are 2-1 in their last three against the Celtics, Mavericks, and Thunder. They now get a small break before hosting the Grizzlies on Friday.

On the other side of the coin, the Mavericks are not where they want to be. After a lot of promise, the most recent loss drops them down to 5-6 on the year. That might be cause for concern in the coming weeks, as last year’s Western Conference champion looks a little flustered.

Even so, Thompson likes his current situation.

“Honestly, it’s (the move) rejuvenated me and done something I needed bad just for my mental health and my career.” He said in an interview, showing that he’s willing to do what it takes to succeed in Dallas.

A Unique Opportunity

Thompson still values his time in Golden State, and questions about the move will likely only get louder as the year rolls on. That’s especially true if Dallas and Golden State continue to trend in opposite directions.

There’s a chance that both sides will benefit from the move, but the Warriors are early winners so far. They have a strong squad and look to be getting on just fine.

Either way, questions about what Thompson should have done are not something he’s too concerned with. He doesn’t want to look backwards. Rather, his focus is on the future, and bringing the same energy he had in the Bay Area to Dallas.

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