Mavs-Warriors preview: Irving’s been there, knows what’s in store for Klay

SAN FRANCISCO – Only a select few can identify with what Klay Thompson will go through on Tuesday night when he makes his return to Chase Center against the team he helped win four NBA championships.

Kyrie Irving can.

While a different set of circumstances were in play for Irving when he made his first appearance in Cleveland, one thing will not change for Thompson, Irving said.

“It’s emotionally draining,” Irving said, “because you’re trying to anticipate what it’s going to be like before you get there.”

For Thompson, it will no doubt be a night filled with love and support. The Golden State Warriors are even giving out captain’s hats to all fans in honor of Thompson and his passion for taking to the waters of San Francisco Bay in his yacht.

In spite of the love, or maybe because of it, it’s not an easy thing to go through. Tribute videos and thank-you hugs from so many well-wishers at the arena will make it difficult to focus.

“The overthinking, how the reception’s going to be – even though Golden State is going to give him one of the warmest embraces and one of the loudest embraces ever that we’ve seen,” Irving said. “So for him, it’s just about enjoying the moment and staying present in it and reflecting on that quick two minutes that we get with a tribute video and the crowd yelling and the emotions start to erupt inside.

“Whether you drop a tear or not, it’s definitely something that we as artists or athletes feel, especially when you’re somewhere for a long time and you’ve won championships. There’s just a different connection to the city, a different connection to the relationships you built.”

When Irving returned to Cleveland with the Boston Celtics for the season opener in 2017-18, he was coming back to a place where he and LeBron James had led the Cavaliers to a title in 2016.

Irving’s departure was not completely amicable. He had reportedly asked for a trade during the offseason. But he remains well-liked by Cleveland fans and even flirted with a reunion with James when he was a free agent this summer.

“I wasn’t on the best terms with Cleveland the first time I went back, but I ended up getting a tribute video the next year,” he said. “It was all good, though.”

Now, he said it will be vital that he and his teammates make sure that Thompson knows he won’t be alone on the emotional ride he’s about to take.

“You aren’t prepared,” Irving said. “It’s going to be on him to be in the present moment, but it’s going to be on us to make sure that he knows he’s not alone and he’s supported. And give him a big hug because it’s emotional going back somewhere like that. We got to go through it with him.

“(We) want to beat them. At the same time, have fun and just enjoy the game. We have his back. It’s just another game on our road trip, but we know how much it means to (Thompson). And we’ll have to bring our emotions up there, too, to be where you are.”

Here’s a few other things to watch for as the Mavericks tangle with the Warriors.

• Don’t expect any favors. Irving was asked about the game itself surrounding Thompson’s return and said: “A great Warriors team that’s been playing well. They’re not going to take it easy on us. They’re not going to take it easy on Klay. So we just got to raise our competitive level.”
• Dereck Lively II went through Monday’s practice at Chase Center and said that he’s making steady progress from a sprained right shoulder that has kept him out of the last four games. The Mavericks clearly have missed him. He’s listed as questionable against the Warriors. P.J. Washington (right knee) is listed as doubtful. Luka Doncic is probable, though still fighting through a left groin strain.
• The Warriors have won six of their last seven and went 4-1 on a challenging recent road trip that ended with Monday’s 127-116 win at Oklahoma City. They also won at Houston, Washington and Boston on the trip. The only loss was to undefeated Cleveland.
• Against the Thunder, the Warriors got 36 points from Steph Curry and 20 off the bench by Jonathan Kuminga. Curry is averaging 22 points and 6.3 assists while hot-shooting Buddy Hield is hitting 48.8 percent of his three-pointers and averaging 18 points per game.
• The Mavericks have lost two in a row for the first time this season, although their performance at Denver was more than respectable. Consistently coming up with the energy and effort that coach Jason Kidd is looking for will be the key to ending the skid.
• The Mavericks now are one of 11 teams in the Western Conference whose record is .500 or better, led by the Pacific Division, which has all five members with winning records, topped by the Warriors.
• Among the Mavericks’ injured players, they will hope to get Maxi Kleber back on the court. He was cleared from the injured list for Monday’s game, but did not play. Dereck Lively II (right shoulder sprain) and P.J. Washington (right knee sprain) are still questionable.

MAVERICKS (5-5) at GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (8-2)

WHEN: 9 p.m., Tuesday

WHERE: Chase Center, San Francisco

TV: TNT.

RADIO: KEGL 97.1 FM, 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)

X: @ESefko