NBA roundup: Curry shines on Thompson's return as Warriors defeat Mavericks in thriller
Stephen Curry (36) delivered an impressive performance, scoring 37 points as the Golden State Warriors defeated the Dallas Mavericks 120-117, overshadowing Klay Thompson's (34) return to the Bay Area in the opening round of the NBA Cup on Tuesday.
Thompson, a cherished member of four championship-winning Golden State teams before his move to Dallas in July, received a warm welcome during his first game back in San Francisco since leaving the team.
Upon his arrival at the Chase Center, he was honored with a guard of honor by enthusiastic Golden State staff, while fans donned nautical caps and expressed their admiration for the player known for his unique commute to work via fishing boat.
Despite Thompson's impressive performance, which included six three-pointers contributing to a total of 22 points, it was Curry who stole the spotlight with a remarkable fourth-quarter display that propelled the Warriors to victory.
The Mavericks appeared to be on the verge of victory, establishing a six-point lead at 114-108 with just over three minutes left in the game.
However, Curry responded with 10 consecutive points, featuring a remarkable step-back three-pointer from 28 feet, which gave Golden State a 118-114 advantage. He then added two crucial free throws to secure the win.
"There was a lot of emotion, but both teams were determined to win," Curry remarked during an interview with TNT.
"It felt like a playoff atmosphere, with exceptional players making significant plays. That’s the essence of competition."
Thompson reflected on the experience, describing it as "surreal" to compete against his former teammate.
"We've faced each other many times in practice for Team USA or during All-Star Games, but playing in a competitive NBA game was quite surreal," Thompson noted.
"It’s tough to be on the receiving end of one of his scoring bursts. He got hot at the end and made some incredible shots. It’s disappointing."
In other contests, Joel Embiid made his long-anticipated debut of the season; however, he could not avert the Philadelphia 76ers' 111-99 loss to the New York Knicks.
Embiid had been sidelined for the first six games of the season as the team managed his recovery from a left knee injury, and he also faced a three-game suspension following a confrontation with a journalist in the locker room.
His limited playing time was evident in a lackluster performance, where he recorded 13 points, five assists, and three rebounds.
With Embiid not performing at his best, the Knicks maintained control for significant stretches, leading for nearly the entire game and ultimately outscoring the Sixers 33-24 in the fourth quarter.
Karl-Anthony Towns delivered an impressive performance with 21 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists, while O.G. Anunoby topped the scoring with 24 points.
In Boston, the Atlanta Hawks achieved a surprising victory in the opening round, overcoming the strong Celtics 117-116, despite the absence of their star player, Trae Young.
The match featured 14 lead changes and appeared to favor the home team midway through the third quarter when the Celtics established a 15-point advantage.
However, Dyson Daniels spearheaded a late comeback, contributing 11 points in the fourth quarter, and Onyeka Okongwu secured the winning basket with just 6.1 seconds remaining.
Daniels was the leading scorer for Atlanta with 28 points, while Larry Nance Jr. added 19 points, and both Jalen Johnson and Clint Capela contributed 18 points each.
The triumph was particularly gratifying for Atlanta, who had previously endured a significant defeat against the Celtics, losing 123-93 at home on November 4th.
Boston's head coach, Joe Mazzulla, acknowledged that Atlanta "outperformed us in every aspect of the game."
"They surpassed us in all the critical areas and rightfully earned the victory," Mazzulla remarked.
In other matchups, the Phoenix Suns secured a win against the Utah Jazz with a score of 120-112, while the Milwaukee Bucks triumphed over the Toronto Raptors, finishing 99-85.
The NBA Cup was established last season to introduce a knockout format during the early part of the league's schedule.
All 30 teams in the league are organized into six groups of five, with eight teams progressing to single-elimination knockout rounds. The semi-finals and final are scheduled to be held in Las Vegas from December 14th to 17th.
SportsLigue