"It hurts": Klay Thompson reacts candidly to Steph Curry's stunning clutch show spoiling his homecoming
In a thrilling Emirates NBA Cup game with a playoff-like atmosphere, the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday narrowly defeated Klay Thompson and his new team, the Dallas Mavericks, 120-117 dampening his return to Chase Center. Steph Curry's heroics in the clutch proved to be the game-changer for the Warriors, who notched their ninth win.
Curry was stellar, scoring 37 points and dishing out nine assists to steer the Warriors past Thompson's Mavericks. The Warriors star nailed five 3-pointers, finishing his final one with his signature "night night" celebration.
Following the game, the former Splash Brother talked about his firsthand experience of guarding a hot-shooting Curry. Thompson said being on the receiving end of his former teammate's scoring barrage hurt.
“It hurts to be on the other side of one of his flurries,” Thompson said postgame. “Guy got hot at the end and made some ridiculous shots. I know I’ve been on the other end, and it sucks.”
Though disappointed, Thompson said he was looking forward to his next clashes with Curry and the Warriors:
“I think we play them three more times. So, hopefully we can learn from it and the tendencies a little better. It sucks because this was a big game for the Cup. We’ve got to digest and move forward,” Thompson said.
The Warriors and Mavericks are set to meet twice more in February.
Steph Curry vs. Klay Thompson: Looking at former teammates' performances in first showdown
The basketball world watched as former Splash brothers Steph Curry and Klay Thompson faced each other for the first time as NBA opponents. Together, they won four championships and reshaped the game with their exceptional 3-point shooting
In his return to Golden State, Klay Thompson put on a strong performance, scoring 22 points with six 3-pointers, including eight points in the fourth quarter.
However, it was Steph Curry who had the last laugh. The Baby-Faced Assassin put the Mavericks away with his clutch plays.
Curry went on a personal 12-0 run to close things out. He finished with 37 points on 5-for-12 shooting from deep, six rebounds, nine assists, one steal and two blocks.
It was a thrilling NBA Cup opener that gave both teams a taste of what could be an intense playoff clash later in the season.