Curry steals show in Thompson’s return to Warriors Chase Center

Warriors guard Stephen Curry (#30) left guards the baseline against Dallas Mavericks guard and former teammate Klay Thompson (#31) right in the second quarter Tuesday at Chase Center. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

2024.11.12 – Stephen Curry scored 37 points, including Golden State’s final 12, to rally the Warriors past Klay Thompson and the Dallas Mavericks 120-117 on Tuesday night.

Thompson finished with 22 points in an emotional return to Chase Center for the first time since he departed to join Dallas in July.

Luka Doncic started after the team decided his left groin strain was healthy to play once he went through his warmup routine.

The defensive match-ups for the Warriors versus the Mavericks were rather straightforward: Andrew Wiggins checks guard Doncic and De’Anthony Melton takes guard Kyrie Irving. Trayce Jackson-Davis matches Daniel Gafford and Draymond Green roams guarding Naji Marshall.

Curry guards Thompson, his Warriors teammate the previous 13 seasons.

“Smiled as soon as he saw the match-up,” Golden State head coach Steve Kerr said after the victory in the NBA Cup opener Tuesday night. “It was a strange night in that regard.”

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2024.11.12 – Mavericks vs. Warriors (NBA Video highlights)

Warriors guard Stephen Curry drives the baseline against Dallas Mavericks guard and former teammate Klay Thompson in the second quarter Tuesday at Chase Center. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

2024.11.12 – Mavericks vs. Warriors (NBA Video highlights)

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2024.11.12 – Mavericks vs. Warriors (NBA Video highlights)

It was the first time Curry was playing against his longtime back-court mate with whom he won four NBA championships — after an emotional pregame ceremony during which Thompson was honored with a tribute video and joyous ovation that included the collective tip of the sailors’ caps gifted by the Warriors to the sellout crowd.

“Absolutely incredible tonight. I knew he’d be locked in,” said Green, after getting 11 points, seven rebounds, six assists, two blocks and three steals while anchoring Golden State’s fourth-quarter defense.

“I couldn’t have imagined a better night all the way around,” Curry said about an hour after the game concluded. Thompson, wearing a sailor’s cap, joined the Warriors in their quarters for a few minutes after his news conference ended.

Thompson gave post-game salutations for his former teammates and coaches.

“Shout-out to Klay for everything he meant to our organization, ” Curry said. “We don’t have any banners without him. He knows that. Everybody knows that. When I go back and watch tonight, I’ll probably get goosebumps.”

Curry also said the season had been building toward Tuesday after Thompson joined the Mavericks in early July. Curry hoped they’d finish their careers together, competing for the Warriors (9-2) alongside Green.

He said he tucked away in the tunnel adjacent to the court for part of Thompson’s pregame tribute video to temper his emotions. Green said he watched it a few hours prior to tip-off, also to emotionally prepare.

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2024.11.12 – Mavericks vs. Warriors (NBC Sports Post Game)

Warriors team mates Jonathan Kuminga (right) and Andrew Wiggins (left) guard over the Dallas Mavericks’ Klay Thompson (center) in the first half on Tuesday at Chase Center. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle

2024.11.12 – Mavericks vs. Warriors (NBC Sports Post Game)

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2024.11.12 – Mavericks vs. Warriors (NBC Sports Post Game)

Attendees included former Warriors swing-man Andre Iguodala and San Francisco 49ers receivers Deebo Samuel and Ricky Pearsall.

Thompson smiled as he basked in the applause.

“He took it all in, and that was great, but that wasn’t my moment,” Green said. He compared the atmosphere to Oracle Arena’s: “Amazing. Incredible. Shout-out” to the fans.

On the opening possession, Thompson posted Curry and fought his way to the free-throw line — thereby setting the tone with which they played the ensuing 48 minutes. Curry countered on the next possession with a 3-pointer over Thompson and pointed at him with his index fingers as he backpedaled defensively.

A couple of minutes later, Green made a 3-pointer over Thompson and yelled in his direction as he went to defend.

“When you play against somebody you’re close with, you want to beat them even more,” Green said. “It just raises that level of competition. Seeing him over there, you want to play great. You want to do great things.”

Playing for the Mavericks (5-6) alongside Doncic and Irving — two of the NBA’s top shot creators — Thompson converted six 3-pointers and mimicked Curry’s shimmy after a corner triple in the second quarter.

The banter and back-and-forth are part of competition.

“Some of it was competitive and some of it was fun,” Curry said. “It was a pretty special night all the way around.”

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2024.11.12 – Mavericks vs. Warriors (Krueger & Crew Post Game)

Warriors forward Stephen Curry (#30) right celebrates after one of his fourth-quarter 3-pointers during a 120-117 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday at Chase Center. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

2024.11.12 – Mavericks vs. Warriors (Krueger & Crew Post Game)

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2024.11.12 – Mavericks vs. Warriors (Krueger & Crew Post Game)

Slowed by Wiggins in the second half, Doncic provided a team-high 31 points, eight rebounds and six assists and teamed with Irving (21 points, six assists) to bend Golden State’s defense en route to a 112-105 lead.

But, following a Melton trey, Curry hit a mid-range jumper, a top-of-the key triple and the go-ahead layup. With a one-point lead in the final minute, he occupied Dereck Lively II with his dribble at the top of the key and buried another triple, placing his hands to the right side of his head.

“It hurts to be on the other side of one of his flurries,” Thompson said. “Guy got hot at the end and made some ridiculous shots.”

Also in celebration, Curry grabbed his jersey and yelled toward a television camera as he pointed to the court. He said he doesn’t remember what he said. Playing against Thompson “will always be weird.

“Granted, we won — so I can say this, but I couldn’t have imagined it going any other way.” Thompson “played well. The crowd got an amazing show. It went down to the wire. Can’t really draw it up any better.”

CURRY CLUTCH

Curry scored Golden State’s final 12 points and bid night-night to the Mavericks and his longtime friend.

His top-of-the-key triple with 27.5 seconds to play would prompt his signature celebration en route to 37 points, six rebounds and nine assists.

Curry shot 14 for 27 making five 3s and added nine assists and six rebounds, also sparking a 20-3 burst to begin the third quarter.

The Warriors gifted captain hats to fans in a tribute to Thompson’s tradition of taking his boat across the bay to games. Thompson embraced Curry shortly before tip off and his 3-pointer gave Dallas a 110-105 lead before his old Splash Brother took over.