In a moment of pregame levity, 75-year-old Spurs coach and noted wine connoisseur Gregg Popovich recalled his reaction in July when he learned the rival Mavericks had acquired four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson.
“Oh my God. How did they do that?”
Rare Pop hyperbole?
“That’s the honest to God’s truth,” he said. “I was probably having a glass of wine somewhere and it wrecked my whole night.”
Watching Thompson’s 22-point debut in Dallas’ 120-109 victory over San Antonio Thursday night in American Airlines Center did nothing to dispel Popovich’s belief that 34-year-old Thompson is “special” and a “great addition” for the Mavericks.
After playing his entire 13-year career with Golden State, Thompson experienced new teammates, new uniform, new home court and new fans, who gave him a thunderous ovation when he was introduced.
“Just a ton of excitement, just really an awesome feeling,” said Thompson, whose six 3-pointers (on 10 attempts) set a record by a Maverick in his debut. “You only get the first time so often. To hear that from the crowd was really cool and I will cherish that moment the rest of my life.”
In this 45th season opener in Mavericks’ history — and seventh time these franchises have opened against one another — the stars’ shooting fizzled for much of the night, but Dallas’ new Big Three of Thompson, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving ignited in the second half.
After shooting 36% in the first half, Dallas outscored San Antonio 73-60 in the third and fourth quarters, with Doncic, Thompson and Irving combining for 41 points and 10-of-16 3-point shooting.
Doncic, returning from a left calf bruise that kept him out all of preseason, played his first competitive game since Slovenia’s Olympic qualifying attempt four months ago, finished with 28 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.
“What an incredible talent,” Thompson said. “I mean, it doesn’t make any sense because what we’re taught growing up, as far as being the best basketball players, you’ve got to jump the highest; you’ve got to run the fastest.
“But somehow, Luka defies that. He plays at his own speed and manipulates the game as good as anyone I’ve ever seen do it. It’s great to be a recipient of that and get great looks.”
San Antonio led 49-47 early in the second half, but during the next 2:36 Mavericks fans and the TNT national audience got a vivid display of Dallas’ offseason firepower boost.
Thompson scored eight points, draining a pair of 3-pointers, as Dallas went on a 16-4 blitz that also included Doncic and Irving sinking 3-pointers.
“It’s easy to play with a guy like that,” Doncic said of Thompson. “You’ve just got to find him. It makes my life and Kai’s easier; it makes the whole team’s life easier. It’s a lot of space, so it’s great.”
Ninety seconds into the fourth quarter, Doncic drove and found Thompson so wide open on the wing that Doncic passed, turned his back to the basket and headed back on defense as Thompson paused, dribbled, measured and knocked down a 3-pointer, giving Dallas a 97-83 lead.
“I’m thinking it’s going in,” Doncic said. “Simple.”
Doncic’s rust showed early. He missed 11 of his first 15 shots, including his first five 3-point attempts.
“I played terrible,” he said. If a near triple-double is terrible, Doncic’s floor, it’s no wonder he begins his seventh season as an NBA MVP favorite.
The night’s second-biggest star, figuratively and literally, Victor Wembanyama shot just 5-of-18 from the field, scoring 17 points and pulling down nine rebounds for the Spurs.
After Dallas’ poor shooting start in the first half, Kidd said veterans Thompson, Irving and Doncic set the tone for the second half by picking up the Spurs full-court defensively.
It wasn’t always aesthetically pleasing, but it was about as good of an opening act as Dallas’ new Big Three — and the reigning Western Conference champion Mavericks — could have hoped for, especially with Doncic having missed the preseason.
So much, so far, for concerns that the Mavericks running essentially a three-guard set would hurt them defensively. Kidd, though, issued a caveat about the new-look Mavericks.
“Yes, you can call it a three-guard lineup,” he said. “But Luka really is a forward. But we’re gonna call it a three-guard lineup if that’s what you guys want to run with.”
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