DeMarcus Cousins express his emotions on returning to basketball for the first time since his Achilles injury last year. (1:17)

LOS ANGELES -- The night began with DeMarcus Cousins' stomach churning with butterflies and nerves, and it ended with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson dumping bottled water on his head.

Making his much-anticipated return to the basketball court nearly a year after tearing his left Achilles tendon, Cousins impressed with 14 points, six rebounds, three assists and three 3-pointers before fouling out in 15 minutes in the Golden State Warriors' 112-94 rout of the LA Clippers at Staples Center.

"Felt like a kid on Christmas," Cousins said. "It's been a long journey. This is probably one of the best days of my life."

Cousins made 5 of 11 shots but was a plus-21 when on the court. He was booed the first time he touched the ball at the start of the game but left to a rousing ovation from the Warriors fans who remained at Staples Center when he fouled out with 8 minutes, 51 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

"Man, probably the fakest love I've ever received in my life. I'm just going to keep it a million," Cousins said, laughing. "I honestly don't see how guys like Steph and Klay do it on the daily, where there are cameras around them all day. I don't like it, at all. So hopefully this is the last day of this."

Of course, Cousins' addition to a dynastic team going for a three-peat brings only more attention, especially if he continues to play as well as he did Friday night. Despite saying he was so out of rhythm that it felt like he was going to trip over himself every time he went to make a move, Cousins announced his return with a thunderous one-handed dunk down the lane for the Warriors' first basket of the game.

Cousins scowled and walked back down the court full of the swagger that made him a four-time All-Star.

"I'm just glad to know that I can still dunk," Cousins said. "It felt good. I never in a million years thought that would be my first basket playing ball again."

And while he had difficulty adjusting to the way the game was being officiated, Cousins displayed the perimeter shooting he can add to the Warriors from the big man position.

He buried 3 of 4 3-pointers, including back-to-back triples at the start of the fourth quarter shortly before fouling out.