Starting 5, Nov. 13: Klay’s return to the Bay

Night 1 of the Emirates NBA Cup hit different, just ask Steph.

THE LINEUP 🏀
Nov. 13, 2024 | What’s inside today’s edition?
The Captain’s Return: An epic ovation, a Splash Brother showdown and a ‘Night, Night’
More Cup Drama: A wild OT ending, a game-winning tip-in and Embiid’s season debut
Tuesday Takeovers: Book cooks, Giannis dominates and the Blazers go off
We(st) Meet Again: Two rematches out West loom large tonight on ESPN
LP Lineup: Cavs aim for lucky 13, Wemby goes for 3, Suns & Kings clash again
BUT FIRST … ⏰
Get ready for a stacked slate tonight…

Wednesday delivers 11 matchups, headlined by an ESPN doubleheader as the Pelicans travel to OKC for a 2024 Playoff rematch (7:30 ET) before LeBron James and the Lakers face the Grizzlies in Los Angeles (10 ET).
Nine games air on League Pass, including a Cavs at Sixers clash with Cleveland seeking the sixth 13-0 start in NBA history (7:30 ET).
1. AN INSTANT CLASSIC IN KLAY’S RETURN TO THE BAY

In Klay Thompson’s first game back in the Bay, the former Splash Brother felt the love, but Steph Curry and Draymond Green refused to let him leave with a win.
Curry (37 pts, 9 ast, 5 3s) iced it at the line in the closing seconds before Luka Dončić missed a potential game-tying 3 to seal the 120-117 win in what Curry said “felt like a Playoff-type atmosphere.” |
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Thompson finished with 22 points and six 3s in his first game back at his former home arena. His final 3-pointer came with 5:17 to play to put the Mavs up five before Steph’s closing run.
that was really cool … Our crowd was great. Klay was great, you can see how much he enjoyed it … beautiful scene.”

The love for Klay began as soon as he made his entrance into the Chase Center – greeted by hundreds of Warriors employees during his tunnel walk to the visiting locker room.
During player introductions, the Warriors played a video tribute before introducing Klay as the final Mavs starter to an extended thunderous ovation from the crowd as the fans tipped their captain’s hats to the four-time champ.
– Curry said after the game with a laugh

The night could not have gone better for the Warriors, who honored one of the greatest players in franchise history before going out and earning a hard-fought win to improve to 9-2 overall and 1-0 in Group Play.
2. MORE NBA CUP NIGHT 1 DRAMA + EMBIID’S DEBUT

Pistons 123, Heat 121 / OT (East Group B): With Miami facing a 14-point deficit in the 4th quarter, Tyler Herro (40 pts, 5 reb, 8 ast, 4 stl, 10 3s) erupted, sinking six 3s in the final frame to force overtime, where he hit a go-ahead jumper to put the Heat up two with 1.8 seconds to play.
But Jalen Duren tied the game on a lob from Cade Cunningham with 1.1 ticks left and an excess timeout technical foul by Miami gave Detroit a free throw and possession. Malik Beasley then sealed the Pistons’ win at the line. | Recap | Watch the final OT minutes
Herro is the first player in Heat franchise history to record 40+ points, 5+ assists and 10+ 3s in a game, while Bam Adebayo added 20 points, including a

Hawks 117, Celtics 116 (East Group C): Jaylen Brown (37 pts, 14-22 FG) and Derrick White (31 pts, 5 ast, 7 3pm) combined for 68 points, but the Hawks rallied from 15 down and Onyeka Okongwu tipped in the go-ahead bucket with 6.1 seconds left to give Atlanta the dub.
Dyson Daniels (career-high 28 pts, 7 ast, 6 stl) led the way for Atlanta, while Okongwu had 15 pts & 6 reb in the big opening W. | Recap

Knicks 111, 76ers 99 (East Group A): In his season debut and a 2024 Playoff rematch, Joel Embiid posted 13 points, five assists and three boards in 26 minutes. Although Paul George (season-high 29 pts, 10 reb, 7 3s) kept the Sixers within striking distance, the Knicks used a complete team effort to pull away late. | Recap
3. BOOK COOKS, BUCKS BOUNCE BACK, BLAZERS POP OFF

Suns 120, Jazz 112 (West Group B): With Kevin Durant – the NBA’s sixth-leading 4th-quarter scorer – out, Devin Booker played the role of closer for Phoenix on Tuesday, dropping 15 points and four 3s in the 4th to lead the Suns over the Jazz to open Group Play. | Recap
John Collins (29 pts, 10 reb, 4 ast, 3 stl) led the way for the Jazz, while Lauri Markkanen added 17 points and five dimes as Utah fell to 2-8

Bucks 99, Raptors 85 (East Group B): Opening the Emirates NBA Cup without Damian Lillard (concussion protocol), Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee in points (23), assists (7) and blocks (4) as the Bucks topped Gradey Dick (career-high 32 points) and the Raptors. | Recap
count toward the standings for the NBA Cup
the regular season and the Bucks – having dropped eight of their last nine games – needed the W in both columns

Blazers 122, Timberwolves 108 (West Group A): The Blazers put together the best team shooting performance of the season so far – 51.2% (43-84) from the field, 56.3% (18-32) from 3 and 90% (18-20) from the line – to top the Wolves to open Group Play. | Recap
Jerami Grant (21 pts, 8 ast) led seven Blazers in double figures and was one of six Blazers with multiple 3s in the win. Toumani Camara and Dalano Banton led the 3-point barrage with four apiece
Magic 114, Hornets 89 (East Group A): Franz Wagner (32 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast, 3 stl) was cooking while his brother, Mo Wagner, added 18 points as the Magic outscored Charlotte 58-37 in the 2nd and 3rd quarters to pull away for a big win, despite LaMelo Ball’s game-high 35 points, seven dimes and six 3s. | Recap

For the full regular season standings click here.
4. ESPN DOUBLEHEADER: TWO WEST REMATCHES TONIGHT

Pelicans at Thunder (7:30 ET): After Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder ended the Pelicans season in four games in the first round of the 2024 Playoffs, Brandon Ingram and NOLA will seek payback in OKC.

Grizzlies at Lakers (10 ET): Looking to improve to 6-0 at home, LeBron James and the Lakers will square off against the Grizzlies for the second time in seven days.
James has only recorded three straight triple-doubles three times in his career, with the last occurrence coming in the 2019-20 season, when the Lakers went on to win the NBA Finals
5. LEAGUE PASS: CAVS GO FOR 13-0, WEMBY HEATS UP, SUNS-KINGS REMATCH

Cavaliers at 76ers (7:30 ET): On Monday, the Cavs became the eighth team in NBA history to begin a season with a dozen straight wins. Tonight, they’ll look to keep the run going and become the sixth team to go 13-0 out of the gate when they visit the Sixers.
Cleveland’s 60.7 effective field goal percentage (which accounts for the value of 2s and 3s) is on pace to be the highest ever – topping the 57.8% set by Indiana and Boston last season

Wizards at Spurs (8 ET): On Saturday, Victor Wembanyama sank a career-best six 3-pointers in a one-point loss to Utah. Two days later, he matched that mark as the Spurs tied their team record with 22 3s in a 20-point win over Sacramento. Can Wemby catch fire from 3 for a third straight game?
Suns at Kings (10 ET): Three days ago, the Kings went into Phoenix and snapped the Suns’ seven-game win streak with an OT victory in Phoenix’s first game without Kevin Durant (ankle). What’s coming tonight?
Six more matchups on League Pass round up the 11-game night.
(10 ET)