San Francisco – A thrilling return was exactly what the sellout crowd wanted at the Chase Center. Klay Thompson made his first appearance since signing with the Dallas Mavericks. After receiving a warm welcome, Thomspon turned his focus to the game and delivered a solid performance with 22 points and 4 rebounds.
“I was a little misty-eyed for sure, that was really cool,” said Steve Kerr on Klay’s pregame tribute. “An amazing moment. Our crowd was great, and Klay was great. You could see how much he enjoyed it. Beautiful scene.”
However, it was Thompson’s former teammate, Stephen Curry, who stole the show, leading the Warriors to a dramatic 120-117 win over the Mavericks. The game held extra significance as TNT hosted the Emirates NBA Cup, part of the league’s new in-season tournament. Teams across the league have begun their journey toward Las Vegas, where they’ll compete for the championship on December 17 at T-Mobile Arena.
Curry took control with three minutes remaining, scoring 12 straight points to clinch Dub Nation’s victory. He finished with a season-high 37 points, following up a 36-point game on November 10 in Oklahoma City. Curry’s clutch performance included 9 assists and 6 rebounds to close out the game. He also recorded a season-high two blocked shots, rounding out a standout night for the Warriors’ star.
“He was very clutch down the stretch,” Luka Doncic said. “I think we should have done a better job guarding him. He can get it off in a short time. Like two threes were out, big distance, but it’s Steph Curry so sometimes there’s just nothing you can do.”
Golden State’s 9-2 record through 11 games marks their best start since the 2021-22 season when they opened 10-1. The Warriors improved to 1-0 in Emirates NBA Cup play and will continue their NBA Cup campaign on Friday, November 15, against Memphis at Chase Center. They will wrap up Group Play with matchups at New Orleans on November 22 and at Denver on December 3.
Kevon Looney grabbed nine offensive rebounds in just 15 minutes off the bench, becoming only the third player in NBA history to achieve at least nine offensive rebounds in 15 minutes or less (since offensive and defensive rebounds were first tracked in 1973-74, per Elias Sports Bureau).
“It’s crazy, as soon as we walked out, Loon (Kevon Looney) said, ‘Man, this feels like Oracle,’ and it definitely had that feeling,” said Green on the crowd. “I don’t know, maybe it was the court, but it just felt darker in there, and it was intense the whole night. They were into it; it was a great crowd. We need that every night, and that’s not a realistic thing to expect every night, but man, they were amazing, incredible. Shout out to them.”
Draymond Green went 2-of-4 from beyond the arc, and Golden State improved to 174-37 all-time in games where he makes two or more 3-pointers (regular season and playoffs). Green is shooting an impressive 45.7% (16-of-35) from three-point range so far this season. Trayce Jackson-Davis also had a strong showing, tying his season high with nine rebounds for the third time.
Klay Thompson finished the night with 22 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. This game marked his first return to Chase Center as a member of the Mavericks, adding a unique emotional backdrop. While Thompson acknowledged the significance of the fanfare, he emphasized that he has now settled into his role as a Maverick. Looking ahead, he noted the team must prepare to face the Warriors three more times this season with hopes of a different outcome.
“I appreciate the fans very much,” said Thompson. The captain’s hat ended up being a great touch ’cause I’m such a passionate boater. I saw a lot of familiar faces in the crowd, that was a warmhearted feeling. It was really cool to see the fans’ gratitude towards myself. It’s something I won’t ever take for granted, so it was very awesome.”
Klay Thompson returns to standing ovation
San Francisco – Klay Thompson returned to Chase Center for the first time since signing with the Dallas Mavericks in the offseason. He didn’t expect to be greeted by nearly 100 Warriors staff members, who gathered to welcome him back. To celebrate his return, every fan in the arena received a special “Captain Klay” hat for the game.
Photo by GSW/Twitter
