3 Overreactions: Mavs Fall Short Against Spurs in Victor Wembanyama’s Historic Game

Wembanyama sets the tone

P.J. Washington scored seven of Dallas’s first 10 points, but Wembanyama answered with 10 of San Antonio’s first 12. He finished the opening quarter with 15 points and disrupted Cooper Flagg with five first-half blocks.

Flagg struggled early after shooting 3-for-19 on Monday. He was 1-for-11 well into the second half, while the Spurs built a 68-51 halftime advantage after a 19-3 run.

Dallas rallies back into it

Irving helped Dallas cut into the deficit, scoring nine points in three minutes. Walter Clayton Jr. added a corner three, and the Mavericks continued to chip away after trailing by as many as 19.

Flagg found his footing when Wembanyama went to the bench, and Dallas closed the gap with plays from Clayton, Naji Marshall and others. Marshall’s three brought the Spurs’ lead down to two, before a Caleb Martin alley-oop to Flagg tied the game.

A narrow finish in San Antonio

Washington’s three gave Dallas its first lead since the first quarter, but Wembanyama tied the score on the next possession. He later reached 47 points to put San Antonio ahead by three with about three minutes remaining.

Marshall tied the game with a corner three with less than two minutes to play. Wembanyama made one of two free throws with 24 seconds left, and Irving missed Dallas’s final shot as the Mavericks fell 112-111.

A costly but encouraging loss

Wembanyama finished with 52 points, 24 rebounds and eight blocks. The article also describes him with 40 points, 19 rebounds and seven blocks through three quarters. Dallas went toe-to-toe with San Antonio on the road despite missing Dereck Lively II and Santi Aldama. Coach Dusty May primarily used Washington to defend Wembanyama, while keeping Gafford and Morez Johnson Jr. on Stephon Castle.