The opening day of the 2024 NBA Cup saw some wild finishes and clutch takeovers in a loaded eight-game slate.
STEPH CURRY, DEVIN BOOKER TAKEOVER LATE IN CLUTCH WARRIORS, SUNS WIN
- Golden State Warriors (9-2) def. Dallas Mavericks (5-6), 120-117: The first battle of the Splash Brothers did not disappoint as Stephen Curry and the Warriors outlasted Klay Thompson and the Mavericks for their first NBA Cup win in West Group C play.
- Chef’s delight: Curry activated his clutch genes late, scoring the final 12 Warriors points to finish with 37 points, six rebounds, and nine dimes alongside five triples.
At 36 years old, he became the oldest player in league history to score 30 or more points in back-to-back games.
Buddy Hield, who Golden State chose as Thompson’s replacement, put up 14 markers.
- Right back at you: Thompson earlier took a piece off his ex-teammates playbook, celebrating with a shimmy after draining a triple with Curry just shaking his head at the play.
Klay Thompson hit Steph Curry's celebration after drilling a triple 🎯
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 13, 2024
All Steph could do was shake his head 😅
Steph then responded with his signature “Night, Night” after hitting a clutch three in the waning seconds of the game.
STEPH UNREAL THREE AND HE HIT THE 'NIGHT NIGHT' CELLY 😱
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 13, 2024
- Curry on playing against Thompson for the first time: “It’ll always be weird. There’s nothing that can cure that."
Steph on the pregame festivities: “I was in the tunnel during the first part of the tribute video because I knew I’d get real emotional if I was out there…I tried to protect myself a little bit there.” 🥹
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) November 13, 2024
- Captain Klay balled out: Despite the loss, Thompson finished with 22 points built on six threes with four rebounds and three assists, becoming just the second player to post those stats against his former team since Kevin Durant faced the OKC Thunder in the 2016-17 season.
Klay Thompson tonight:
— StatMamba (@StatMamba) November 13, 2024
22 PTS
4 REB
3 AST
6/12 3PT
Most 3PM by a player in their first game against a former team since KD vs OKC.
- Thompson on seeing Curry took over late: “It hurts to be on the other side of one of his flurries.”
“Guy got hot at the end… It sucks.”
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 13, 2024
Klay Thompson on being at the losing end of matchup with Steph Curry and the Warriors 🗣?
(via @NBAonTNT)
- Phoenix Suns (9-2) def. Utah Jazz (2-8), 120-112: Devin Booker and Bradley Beal combined for 55 points as the Suns stopped the Jazz to chalk up their first NBA Cup win in West Group B.
- Vicious valley duo: Booker scored 15 of his team-high 31 points in the final frame while Beal added 24 in as Phoenix got their first win without superstar Kevin Durant, who was sidelined due to a left calf strain injury.
The Suns are grouped with the defending NBA Cup winners Los Angeles Lakers, who they will face on November 26, alongside the OKC Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs.
HAWKS, PISTONS HACK OUT THRILLING LAST-GASP WINS
- Atlanta Hawks (5-7) def. Boston Celtics (9-3), 117-116: Onyeka Okongwu scored the go-ahead tip-in with 6.1 seconds left as the Trae Young less-Hawks completed a 15-point comeback against the defending champions in Boston.
- Stepping up big time: Dyson Daniels posted a career-high 28 points as he missed a floater in the dying seconds of the game only for Okongwu to clean up the mess.
Jalen Johnson tallied his first triple-double of the season after logging 18 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, becoming the second youngest forward to post a trip-dub in the TD Garden since LeBron James.
Jalen Johnson tonight:
— StatMamba (@StatMamba) November 13, 2024
18 PTS
13 REB
10 AST
3 STL
The 2nd youngest forward in NBA history to record a triple-double at TD Garden (LeBron).
Jalen Brown had a season-high 37 points but his potential game-winning bucket rimmed out as the Celtics dropped their first game of the NBA Cup.
- Detroit Pistons (4-6) def. Miami Heat (5-7), 123-121: In one of the wildest finishes you would ever see, the Pistons scored 3 points in the last 1.1 seconds of overtime to nip the Heat.
- Motor City miracle: The Heat had a monumental collapse in Detroit which the Pistons capitalized to win their first NBA Cup game in East Group B play.
First, Cade Cunningham hit Jalen Duren with an alley-oop to tie the game at 121-apiece before Miami received a technical for calling a timeout despite having none of it.
Malik Beasley then made a tiebreaking free throw with 1.1 seconds left that sealed a wild Pistons win.
Erik Spoelstra calls for a timeout despite the Heat being out of timeouts
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) November 13, 2024
Detroit wins the game at the line
(via @FanDuelSN_Heat)
pic.twitter.com/cF328ysYCw
- That hurts for Herro: The loss put a huge blow on Tyler Herro's big night, who dropped 40 points, including 18 alone in the fourth frame, five rebounds, seven assists, four triples and 10 threes.
He became just the second player in league history to record those numbers in a single game after Stephen Curry accomplished that feat.
The only players in NBA history with
— StatMuse (@statmuse) November 13, 2024
40+ points
5+ rebounds
5+ assists
4+ steals
10+ threes
in a game.
KNICKS SPOIL EMBIID’S SEASON DEBUT; MAGIC, BUCKS, TRAIL BLAZERS RACK UP FIRST NBA CUP W’S
- New York Knicks (5-5) def. Philadelphia 76ers (2-7), 111-99: OG Anunoby and the New York Knicks pulled away in the final frame en route to spoiling Joel Embiid’s season debut with the Sixers.
[ALSO READ: Joel Embiid makes season debut but Knicks foil Sixers to win Emirates Cup opener]
- Everybody ate for the Knicks: Anunoby scored 24, Karl-Anthony Towns added 21, while three other New York starters scored in double-digit in this rematch of last playoff’s East opening round clash.
- A so-so season debut: Embiid played his first game after missing the Sixers first nine games and finished with 13 points but shot just 2-of-11 in 26 minutes.
Joel Embiid in his season debut:
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 13, 2024
13 points
3 rebounds
5 assists
2-of-11 FG
1-of-5 3PT
The Sixers fall to the Knicks 111-99.
- Embiid on his mental state in first game back from injury: "I was a little timid when it came to attacking. But I expected it. I just knew that pushing off [on the knee]...that's the mental hurdle that I gotta get to."
"I was a little timid when it came to attacking. But I expected it. I just knew that pushing off [on the knee]...that's the mental hurdle that I gotta get to."
— PHLY Sixers (@PHLY_Sixers) November 13, 2024
"I felt pretty good, health wise. I think it's just about trusting myself."
Joel Embiid talks about the mental aspect…
- Orlando Magic (6-6) def. Charlotte Hornets (4-7), 114-89: Franz Wagner exploded for 32 points, spearheading the Magic to a statement 25-point demolition of the Hornets in East Group A play.
- Milwaukee Bucks (3-8) def. Toronto Raptors (2-10), 99-85: In a battle of lowly teams, Giannis Antetokounmpo fired 23 markers to lead the Bucks to a winning NBA Cup debut against the Raptors.
- Portland Trail Blazers (4-8) def. Minnesota Timberwolves (6-5), 122-108: Jerami Grant and Robert Williams combined for 40 points as the Trail Blazers snapped a three-game skid at the expense of Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves in West Group A action.
