Steph the winner in a battle of separated “Splash Brothers” originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – No figurative fratricide can be sweeter than it was Tuesday night at Chase Center, where at the end both brothers stand hugging each other.
Stephen Curry saved the reeling Warriors, surviving the revenge attempt of longtime backcourt partner Klay Thompson.
The Warriors get the 120-117 win over 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 got Klay.’ And Steph smiled as soon as he saw the matchups.”
It was, from 2011-12 through 2023-24, Steph and Klay side by side in the backcourt, slicing and slicing opposing defenses together, going to five straight All-Star games together, going to five straight NBA Finals together. “Splash Brothers” on the court, blood brothers in life.
And now on opposite sides. Steph finished with 37 points, shutting down the Mavericks in the fourth quarter. Klay finished with 22 points, including a pair of 3-pointers from which he took particular joy.
The game, like the evening, had the kind of cinematic flourishes one could want from a wonderful movie. An emotional start, where the pregame ceremony celebrates Klay’s first return to the Bay Area, this time as a lovable antagonist. Adored protagonist in Steph. Bodies crashing to the floor, only to rise again. A sellout crowd, wearing white Captain’s caps in honor of Klay, on their feet for the final minutes. Nerves bounce off walls.
“It was a night to remember for sure,” said Steph. “Even from July, when Klay decided to go to Dallas, until we showed up for training camp and he wasn’t here, it was a little slow building to tonight for everyone because it was such a different look for us, Klay in a new uniform.
“Granted, we won, so I can say this. But I couldn’t imagine this going any other way, where he played well, the crowd got an amazing show, it went down. Really can’t draw it any better. Some special memories to reflect on with the 13 years he was here and the four championships and all that we accomplished. And then turn the page to where we are now.”
So much happened in the first 45 minutes, and it was a lot, with nine lead changes and each team building and losing double-digit advantages. And it was just a prelude to a finale for the ages.
A Klay 3-pointer gave Dallas a 110-105 lead with 5:17 remaining, prompting Kerr to call a timeout in hopes of restoring order. It didn’t slow down the Mavericks, who pushed their lead to seven 44 seconds later, sending a wave of anxiety through the crowd.
When a 3-pointer by De’Anthony Melton pulled the Warriors back within four, with 3:51 remaining, Dallas sack man Daniel Gafford responded by dropping a floater to cut the lead back to six, 114-110, with 3:29 left.
Klay never scored again. The Mavericks made one more field goal, a 3-pointer, which was just a cyclone fence against the tsunami brought by Steph. He single-handedly outscored the Mavericks 12-3 over the final 3:10, attempting four field goals, making all four, and adding two free throws.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Kerr said of Steph’s finish. “It never gets old. It’s incredible to watch him. It really is. You just think every shot is going in. He loves it. He loves the moment.”
Comeback complete, Steph stood victorious in a game that clearly had a special meaning. Klay stood tall, but disappointed, in defeat.
“The guy got hot at the and made some ridiculous shots,” Klay said. “And being on the other end, it sucks.”
Steph was, well, proud and grateful.
“That’s my guy,” Steph said. “That’s my friend. My road dog for 13 years, so there is a lot of history. You will have a lot of back and forth. Some of it was competitive. Some of it was fun.
“Thankfully, we were able to focus on the game. Just hoop and compete. It was an unreal night for sure, all around.”
When the final buzzer sounded, Steph and Klay shared a hug that was unlike any other. From these then came a triumphant tandem, drenched in champagne, posing for photos that capture the greatness of the Golden State dynasty they shared as founders.
