Wednesday saw the start of the 2024–25 NBA Season’s Emirates NBA Cup (a.k.a. the midseason tourney). There were upsets, blowouts, and a lot of everything else on a busy day for the Association.
Here are some notables:
Klay Thompson Gets Fitting Tribute in Emotional Homecoming
Klay Thompson, the Dallas Mavericks’ prized offseason acquisition returned to The Bay on Wednesday, and it was an emotional homecoming, to say the least. The sharpshooting guard received a roaring standing ovation from an appreciative Golden State crowd, along with a fitting tribute to a Bay Area legend.
The four-time champion from the Warriors also played like the Captain Klay of old, finishing with 22 points and 6-for-12 from the arc. But the Warriors spoiled Thompson’s homecoming, coming back late to repel the Mavs, 120-117, behind the hot-shooting endgame of Steph Curry—the other half of the famed Splash Brothers with Thompson.
Steph Curry Makes History
Speaking of Curry, the widely acknowledged best shooter ever authored yet another magical endgame against the Mavs, scoring the Warriors’ final 12 points to overcome the visitors at Chase Center even after trailing 114-108 with under three minutes left.
Curry finished with a game-high 37 points on top of 6 rebounds and 9 assists in another virtuoso performance. It was also historic, as Curry’s 37-point output made him the oldest point guard to score at least 30 in consecutive games. He also joined Michael Jordan and LeBron James as the only 36-year-old and older NBA player to score at least 35 in back-to-back games.
Joel Embiid Returns for the Sixers
Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid finally played his first game this 2024–25 NBA Season on Wednesday at the Wells Fargo Center against the New York Knicks, the Sixers’ fierce Eastern Conference rivals.
The Knicks, though, spoiled Embiid’s long-awaited return, cruising to a 111-98 victory behind a 14-point, 12-rebound, 10-assist triple-double from Josh Hart. Embiid chipped in 13 points for the Sixers but was just 2-for-11 from the field and played only 26 minutes.
This game was the first time Paul George and Embiid played together this season.
Erik Spoelstra Costs Heat Road Loss
Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is regarded as among the best coaches in the NBA, but on Wednesday, Coach Spo was uncharacteristically out of his element. First, the veteran tactician nearly sent six players to the court in what turned out to be the game-tying possession for the Pistons.
Then, Spoelstra called a timeout the Heat no longer had, resulting in an automatic technical with the game tied at 121. The Pistons’ Malik Beasley converted the technical free throw and added another to help Detroit edge out Miami, 123-121.
