DALLAS — During a pause in the early fourth quarter of a recent game, Klay Thompson engaged in a friendly conversation with Tony Romo. Not long after, he found himself wide open for a three-pointer. He took a moment to dribble, recalibrated, and then confidently sank the shot.

Thompson’s debut with the Dallas Mavericks turned out to be a marked improvement over his last game with the Golden State Warriors. In this first appearance for the Mavericks, he set a franchise record by hitting six three-pointers and scoring 22 points, playing alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving for the first time. The Mavericks secured a 120-109 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in their season opener.

“Initially, I felt a mix of nerves and anxiousness,” Thompson reflected. “But once you see that first shot go in, a wave of relief washes over you. It was a fantastic debut, and while it’s just one game in October, I’m glad to have gotten that first one under my belt.”

Thompson, who had struggled in his final game with the Warriors—missing all of his attempts in a play-in tournament loss—made his first two shots with the Mavericks, both taken from inside the arc. Following a slow start in line with his team, which shot just 36% in the first half, he missed four consecutive shots before finding his rhythm, ultimately scoring 14 points after halftime. He finished remarkably strong, making 4 of 5 from beyond the arc while his team shot an impressive 13 of 21 three-pointers overall in the second half, compared to just 6 of 23 in the first.

The pivotal three-pointer after his chat with Romo came during a 16-3 run in the early fourth quarter, marking the Mavericks’ first 20-point lead of the game. While Thompson’s pause and dribble routine may have been unfamiliar to the Dallas crowd, he stated that it’s a move he’s employed at times during his career.

“When you find yourself as open as that, you can sometimes end up overthinking it,” Thompson explained. “Though, I was aware Luka was racing down the court, and I was happy to have made the shot—it was good to keep him from looking foolish.”

In total, Thompson shot 7 of 13 from the field, including 6 of 10 from three-point range. Doncic led the Mavericks with 28 points, coupled with 10 rebounds and eight assists. Thompson’s lone assist came from a well-timed play where he drove to the basket but opted to pass back to Irving, who nailed a three-pointer, contributing to Irving’s solid 15-point performance.

“It’s effortless playing alongside someone like him,” Doncic said of Thompson. “He creates so much space and makes everything easier for all of us, myself, Kai, and the entire team. It’s fantastic to have that kind of impact on the court.”