Thompson’s takeoff with his new franchise was pretty impressive.
He scored 22 points in 26 minutes during Dallas’ season-opening 120-109 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night.
He was 7-of-13 from the floor and 6-of-10 from 3-point range, setting a record for 3s made in a Mavericks debut. He contributed in the gritty aspects of the game as well, grabbing seven rebounds and three steals.
“He was great, man,” Mavs superstar Luka Doncic said. “Just knocking down a lot of shots and he was moving out there. He played great defense, too.”
Doncic described himself as “rusty” after missing the preseason because of a left calf contusion. He finished with 28 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists, but was only 9-of-25 from the floor.
It was the first time Doncic and Thompson played together outside of a pickup game and a handful of practices, but the chemistry between them clicked. Doncic assisted on four of Thompson’s seven buckets, one of the league’s premier playmakers setting up an all-time great shooter.
“It’s easy to play with a guy like that,” Doncic said. “It makes your life easier. You got to find him.”
It was the type of dynamic Thompson envisioned when he chose to come to Dallas in free agency, a decision made in part out of a desire to play with Doncic.
“What an incredible talent,” Thompson said of Doncic.
“I mean, it doesn’t make any sense, because what we’re taught growing up as far as being the best basketball player is you got to jump the highest, you got to run the fastest, but somehow Luka defies that. He plays at his own speed and manipulates the game as good as I’ve ever seen anyone do it. And it’s great to be a recipient of that and get great looks.”
Four of Doncic’s feeds to Thompson resulted in 3-pointers.
