Steph the winner of the battle of the separated “Splash Brothers” originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – No figurative fratricide can be sweeter than that of Tuesday night at the Chase Center, where in the end the two brothers stand, hug.
Stephen Curry had saved the Warriors, surviving the revenge attempt by his longtime partner, Klay Thompson.
THE The Warriors win 120-117 against the Dallas Mavericks, with “Splash Brother” Steph getting the W and “Splash Brother” Klay taking the L. Literally.
“We did our pregame scouting,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said, “and we went through the matchups and it’s almost surreal to say, ‘Steph, you’ve got Klay.’ And Steph smiled as soon as he saw the clashes.
It was, from 2011-12 to 2023-24, Steph and Klay side by side in the backcourt, slashing and slashing opposing defenses together, going to five straight All-Star games together, going to five straight NBA Finals together. “Splash Brothers” on the field, blood brothers in life.
And now on opposite sides. Steph finished with 37 points, closing out the Mavericks in the fourth quarter. Klay finished with 22 points, including a couple of 3-pointers he was particularly happy about.
The game, like the evening, had the kind of cinematic flourish one would expect from a wonderful film. An emotional start, with the pre-match ceremony celebrating Klay’s first return to the Bay Area, this time as a lovable antagonist. A beloved protagonist in Steph. Bodies crashing to the ground, only to get back up again. A sold-out crowd, wearing white captain’s caps in honor of Klay, on their feet for the final minutes. Nerves bounce off the walls.
“It was definitely a night to remember,” Steph said. “Even starting in July when Klay decided to go to Dallas and we showed up to training camp and he wasn’t there, that night was a slow build for everyone because it It was such a different look for us, Klay in a new uniform.
“Certainly we won, so I can say that. But I couldn’t imagine it going any other way, where he played well, the crowd had an amazing show, it went right to the end. I can’t really write it any better. Special memories to reflect on with the 13 years he was here, the four championships and everything we accomplished. And then turn the page to where we are now.
So much happened in the first 45 minutes, and there was a lot of it, with nine lead changes and each team building and losing double-digit advantages. And it was only a prelude to an eternal finale.
A 3-pointer from Klay gave Dallas a 110-105 lead with 5:17 remaining, prompting Kerr to call a timeout in hopes of restoring order. That didn’t slow the Mavericks, who pushed their lead to seven 44 seconds later, sending a wave of anxiety through the crowd.
When a De’Anthony Melton 3-pointer brought the Warriors within four with 3:51 to play, Dallas bagman Daniel Gafford responded by bringing a floater to the lead at six, 114-110 , with 3:29.
Klay never scored again. The Mavericks scored one more basket, a 3-point basket, which was only a cyclone barrier against the tsunami brought by Steph. He single-handedly outscored the Mavericks 12-3 over the final 3:10, attempting four baskets, making all four and adding two free throws.
“I’ve been looking at this for a long time,” Kerr said of Steph’s arrival. “It never gets old. It’s amazing to watch him. It really is. You just think every shot goes in. He loves it. He loves the moment.
Return completed, Steph emerged victorious in a match that clearly had special meaning. Klay stood, but disappointed, in the face of defeat.
“The guy warmed up and made some ridiculous shots,” Klay said. “And being on the other end of the phone sucks.”
Steph was, well, proud and grateful.
“That’s my guy,” Steph said. “He’s my friend. My road dog for 13 years, so there’s a lot of history. You’re going to have a lot of back and forth. Some of it was competitive. Some of it was fun.
“Luckily we were able to concentrate on the match. Just hoop and compete. It was an unreal night for sure, in every way.
When the final bell rang, Steph and Klay shared an embrace unlike any other. They formed a triumphant tandem, drenched in champagne, posing for photos that captured the greatness of the Golden State dynasty they shared as founders.
