Splash Brother Rivalry: Steph Curry Can Only Shake His Head as Klay Hits First 3 in SF Return
As the ball snapped through the net, the camera panned immediately to Stephen Curry. The greatest shooter of all time didn’t look angry; he looked amused. Curry simply shook his head and laughed, a silent acknowledgment that his long-time partner still had that lethal touch. Thompson followed the shot with a celebratory shimmy, a move usually reserved for the home crowd, but now aimed directly at the Warriors’ bench.
“He Still Has It”
The atmosphere at Chase Center was electric before tip-off, fueled by a “Captain Klay” hat giveaway and a two-minute tribute video. But once the whistle blew, the nostalgia evaporated. Thompson attacked his former teammates with a clinical efficiency, finishing the night with 22 points and six triples. Every time Thompson touched the ball, the crowd wavered between a cheer and a nervous hush.
The Warriors’ defense tried to stay home on Thompson, but his ability to move without the ball—a skill honed over 13 years in San Francisco—proved too difficult to neutralize. This wasn’t a ceremonial return; it was a Statement Game for a player looking to prove he still belongs in the elite tier of Western Conference wings.
“It’s weird seeing him in that jersey, but the jumper is the same. I couldn’t help but laugh when he hit that first one. I’ve seen that movie too many times before.”
— Stephen Curry on Thompson’s first three-pointer
Curry Gets the Last Word
While Thompson provided the early fireworks, Curry delivered the finale. In a back-and-forth thriller that lived up to the hype of the Emirates NBA Cup, Curry exploded for 37 points. He closed the game on a personal 12-0 run, punctuated by his own “Night Night” celebration to seal the 120-117 victory.
The Mavericks nearly pulled off the upset behind Luka Doncic’s 31 points, but they struggled to find a secondary stop once Curry went into “flamethrower” mode. Thompson had a chance to tie or win late, but the Warriors’ familiarity with his tendencies allowed them to force the ball out of his hands in the closing seconds.
What This Means for the Warriors
The win moves the Warriors to 1-0 in NBA Cup group play and reinforces their status as a deep, dangerous contender. For Thompson, the night was a success in terms of closure and individual performance, even if the scoreboard didn’t favor Dallas. This matchup proved that while the Splash Brothers may be on opposite sides of the court, the competitive fire between them will be one of the NBA’s best subplots all season long.
