Undermanned Mavericks Drop Home Opener to Spurs

For the third straight game, the Dallas Mavericks managed to stick with their opponent early, but in light of playing without stars Cooper Flagg (shoulder) and Kyrie Irving (knee, rest), the San Antonio Spurs ran away with a 122-106 win Saturday night at American Airlines Center.

Victor Wembanyama's 23 points powered a unit that saw six Spurs score in double figures.

Dallas had a hot stretch in the second quarter, with the Mavericks starting the quarter shooting 75 percent from the field. The Mavericks took the lead and built an advantage as large as six; however, with Daniel Gafford picking up his third foul early, the Spurs battled the Mavs' small-ball lineups by going on an extended 23-11 run to own an eight-point lead at the half.

The question in everyone's mind coming into the game was simple: Who on the Mavericks roster is going to be the one to initiate the offense?

In the first half, it was Naji Marshall and Sergio de Larrea. The two combined for seven assists to only two turnovers, and for De Larrea specifically, he had a coming party.

De Larrea finished the first half with 12 points, two rebounds, shooting 75 percent from the floor, including knocking down his lone three-point attempt. Oh, and his first NBA points on a sweet floater in the lane.

The Spanish rookie ended the game as the Mavericks' leading scorer with 21 points off the bench.

In the third quarter, Dallas struggled to handle the ball, turning it over six times in five minutes. San Antonio took advantage, bringing their lead up to as many as 14.

With the half-court offense looking stagnant, it was the guards for Dallas pushing the tempo in open court to give them a boost. Marcus Sasser, Zaccharie Risacher, and De Larrea each took turns scoring in transition, with de Larrea taking the Spurs' best point-of-attack defender, Stephon Castle, to the rim for a lead-taking floater. 

The lead was short-lived, however, as Castle and Wembanyama both hit threes to put San Antonio back in front by two heading into the fourth quarter.

San Antonio built on the momentum by going on an 11-2 run in the first three minutes, then outscoring the Mavs 30-17 overall in the final period.

The Spurs (1-2) return home to face the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday.

Dallas (1-2) hosts Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Miami Heat on Monday.