Dirk Nowitzki farewell gives vintage performance in farewell game at Oracle Arena

No matter how many times you see the Gash of Honour, it’s higher on the wall than you remember it being.

It’s about 15 feet off the floor, on the wall facing Oracle Arena’s visitors’ locker room.

The gash was famously caused by a Dirk Nowitzki fit of rage, on May 3, 2007, when he threw a chair – or was it a rubbish bin? – high upon the wall moments after his 67-victory Mavericks were bounced in the first round of the play-offs by 42-win Golden State.

Nowitzki didn’t exactly get vindication by scoring a season-high 21 points in the Mavericks’ shocking 126-91 victory Saturday night over two-time-reigning champion Golden State, but it was quite a way for 40-year-old Nowitzki to say farewell to 53-year-old Oracle.

The Warriors next season are moving across the bay to the new Chase Centre in San Francisco, but they plan to cut out and place the Dirk shrine – complete with 2007 Warriors “We Believe” T-shirt and Nowitzki signature – and place it in the new building.

Nowitzki hasn’t said whether he will return for a 22nd season, but, either way, this was his last game at Oracle.