SAN FRANCISCO – After the gushing over Klay Thompson subsided, the competitive juices flowed just as freely at Chase Center.
The night started with Golden State Warriors employees lining the hallway as Thompson made the walk from the team bus to the visitor’s locker room for the first time.
It ended with Steph Curry reminding everyone who the Alpha dog was when they were the Splash Brothers.
Curry uncorked a game-clinching three-pointer with 26.4 seconds left as part of his 37 points as the Warriors ruined Thompson’s return with a 120-117 victory.
Thompson was strong all night, finishing with 22 points and hitting half of his 12 three-pointers.
But Curry had the last laugh. He scored the Warriors’ last 12 points.
It was Thompson’s first game against the Warriors, for whom he played his first 13 seasons in the league.
The Mavericks were up 110-105 after Thompson’s sixth three-pointer and the advantage grew to seven on Daniel Gafford’s dunk with 4:33 left.
That’s where the Mavericks ran out of steam. The Warriors scored 10 of the next 12 points to take a 115-114 lead with 1:49 to go. Curry was a beast, hitting a midrange jumper, a three-pointer and a driving, high-arching layup as part of the surge.
Both teams had empty possessions, but Curry then drilled a three-pointer with 26.4 seconds left. Quentin Grimes kept the Mavericks’ hopes alive with a three pointer five seconds later, but Curry was fouled with 12.9 showing and nailed both free throws.
Luka Dončić, who had 31 points, had a chance with a difficult three-pointer on the Mavericks’ final possession but it was off the mark.
It was the opening game of the Emirates NBA Cup, the league’s in-season tournament that features three groups of five teams in each conference. The Mavericks now will be fighting from behind the rest of the way in Group C of the Western Conference.
The Mavericks were hanging around, despite getting outscored 20-3 to start the second half.
Less than two minutes into the fourth quarter, they were only down 96-95. That’s when coach Jason Kidd challenged a foul call against Luka Dončić on Jonathan Kuminga. The ruling of a foul was upheld.
Undaunted, the Mavericks kept the heat on, going up 110-105 on Thompson’s sixth three-pointer of the night, setting up a riveting finish.
The Mavericks were hanging around earlier, despite getting outscored 20-3 to start the second half.
Less than two minutes into the fourth quarter, they were only down 96-95. That’s when coach Jason Kidd challenged a foul call against Luka Dončić on Jonathan Kuminga. The ruling of a foul was upheld.
Undaunted, the Mavericks kept the heat on, going up 110-105 on Thompson’s sixth three-pointer of the night, setting up a riveting finish.
Earlier, the Mavericks had a really good second quarter when they turned a six-point deficit into a 57-46 lead with three minutes remaining before the half. That 30-13 run was fueled by Thompson, who nailed two of his three first-half three-pointers during the spree.
But the Warriors crept a bit closer at the half, 63-59, when Curry got into the lane and lofted a floater while getting fouled by Thompson. Curry stared down his former teammate for a second or two after the ball plopped into the net.
Friends forever, except when they’re guarding each other.
Kerr’s strategy vs. Luka? Golden State coach Steve Kerr was asked before the game about the preferred methods to guard Luka Dončić, which many teams feel this year is to guard him one-on-one.
Kerr said he’s tried that in the past – along with just about everything else – with mixed results.
“His three-point percentage has never been super high,” Kerr said. “There have been many games over the years where we’ve gone in and said: let’s guard him one on one and challenge the step-back but don’t bite on the pump-fake. He’s a 34 percent (three-point shooter).
“And then he goes seven for nine. At the end of that game, you’re like: when does he go 0-for-11 to balance this out. Never against us.”
Kerr also said not sending Luka to the free-throw line is a big part of any defense thrown his way.
X: @ESefko
