In one of the crucial thrilling matchups of the season, the Warriors beat the Mavericks 120 to 117, in an extremely intense conflict that noticed Klay Thompson’s return to Chase Heart for the primary time since he was traded out this previous summer season. The veteran guard was celebrated with an emotional ceremony earlier than tip-off, in addition to some phrases from his former teammates.
The brand new Dallas star performed his first contest towards the San Francisco membership since he entered the NBA within the 2011 NBA Draft, and 13 years in California. Golden State unveiled a tribute video which confirmed a few of his greatest moments within the Bay Space, and obtained a standing ovation from a crowd that was sporting captain hats in his honor.
Klay began off scorching and dropped within the first two factors of the match. By the tip, he had scored 22 factors in whole, together with 6 three-pointers. Nevertheless, this wasn’t sufficient to cease Stephen Curry’s masterful efficiency, with 37 factors on 14-of-27 capturing that took the Warriors to a 1-0 file within the NBA Cup.
Klay Thompson’s large night time ends together with his former Splash Brother placing Mavericks to mattress https://t.co/3er7Evu5xn
— Dallas Morning Information (@dallasnews) November 13, 2024
Probably the most thrilling moments of the sport got here through the second quarter, as Thompson hit back-to-back pictures from past the arc, and celebrated with a gesture that paid homage to Curry. “Klay is aware of higher than that,” Steph joked later, retaining alive their pleasant banter.
As soon as the competition was over, the 34-year-old addressed the media by explaining simply how a lot he loved the entire expertise. “It was enjoyable to match up with Steph, guard one another like we did earlier than within the apply, Workforce USA scrimmages, All-Star video games… So, fairly surreal to do it in an NBA recreation,” he admitted.
However, Klay later revealed how tough it was to clarify the sensation of watching Curry drain the online, repeatedly, as your opponent. He is aware of greater than anybody that when his former teammate is on fireplace, there’s nothing that may cease him.
“It hurts to be on the opposite facet of certainly one of his flurries, he acquired scorching ultimately and made some ridiculous pictures, . Yeah, it sucks proper now, however we play them three extra instances this season, we gotta digest and transfer ahead,” Thompson shared postgame.
The Golden State group ready a particular ceremony for Thompson by which they gave captain hats to your entire crowd to salute their former participant
The California franchise honored the 34-year-old veteran with a particular “Salute Captain Klay” this Tuesday night. Klay was launched because the Mavericks’ fifth starter throughout final night time’s conflict in San Francisco, which served as each staff’s first NBA Cup tie. Earlier than the athlete’s introduction, the house staff performed a minute-long tribute video, a properly as some phrases from former teammate Stephen Curry.
“It’ll be emotional and unusual. While you hear Klay Thompson introduced, however he’s not working out by our line of men, it’s going to be a special night time for us and him,” stated Golden State’s president and chief working officer Brandon Schneider, earlier than the sport began.
Based on the chief, ever for the reason that summer season the Warriors had been brainstorming concepts to make Klay really feel welcome upon his return. Schneider defined how the conversations started as quickly because the NBA schedule was launched for this season.
This was when the thought of the captain’s hat was determined, as a result of the Golden State group as they needed to do one thing extra than simply give out a T-shirt or the standard video, due to what the five-time All-Star means to this membership. “We expect it is going to be a cool second to collectively tip our hat to captain Klay Thompson,” he stated.
