CURRY RUINS CAPTAIN'S BAY RETURN

His fourth-quarter flurry gives Warriors emotional win over Thompson's Mavs

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The Golden State Warriors gave Klay Thompson a warm welcome, but at the end of the day it was business as usual as "both teams wanted to win".

On Nov 12, Stephen Curry scored 37 points as the Warriors spoiled Thompson's return to the Bay Area with a 120-117 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in the opening round of the NBA Cup.

Thompson – a beloved member of four National Basketball Association (NBA) championship-winning Golden State teams before joining Dallas in July – received a rapturous welcome in his first game back in San Francisco.

"Captain Klay" was given a guard of honor by cheering Golden State staff upon his arrival at the Chase Centre, before fans wearing nautical caps roared their appreciation for the 34-year-old, who famously used to commute to work in his fishing boat.

But despite delighting the home crowd with six three-pointers in a 22-point haul, Thompson was upstaged by former teammate Curry, who produced a stunning fourth-quarter performance to drag the Warriors over the line.

The Mavericks looked poised to snatch victory after battling into a 114-108 lead with just over three minutes remaining.