DALLAS — Anthony Davis has faced plenty of tough matchups in his career, but few present the kind of problems Victor Wembanyama does.

The 7-foot-4 forward delivered a commanding performance Wednesday night, finishing with 40 points, 15 rebounds, and three blocks as the San Antonio Spurs rolled past the Dallas Mavericks 125-92 in the regular-season opener at American Airlines Center.

Davis, who led Dallas with 22 points and 13 rebounds, said Wembanyama’s combination of size and skill makes him unlike any other player in the league.

“Defensively, you’ve got to account for him,” Davis said. “He can be guarding someone and still block a jump shot. He’s always coming to change shots.”

Wembanyama was effective on both ends, scoring from mid-range, attacking the rim, and forcing Dallas into early foul trouble. His length disrupted several of the Mavericks’ offensive possessions, as Dereck Lively II, P.J. Washington, and Davis each picked up multiple fouls trying to slow him down.

“Offensively, he can handle,” Davis said. “At 7 – whatever he wants to be listed at – (he has) the ability to play plenty minutes at point center, point forward, point guard. His skill set is set, so he causes a problem on the offensive end as well as the defensive end. That’s why he is special.”

The Mavericks shot just 37.3% from the floor and were outscored 68-26 in the paint, struggling to generate consistent offense once the Spurs’ defense tightened.

Jason Kidd echoed Davis’ praise for Wembanyama, noting how his presence dictated the flow of the game.

“Defensively, you’ve got to account for him,” Kidd said. “He can be guarding someone and still block a jump shot. Offensively, he can handle. At 7 – whatever he wants to be listed at – the ability to play plenty minutes at point center, point forward, point guard. He causes a problem on the offensive end as well as the defensive end. That’s why he is special.”

Even in defeat, Davis said the opener offered a valuable lesson in facing one of the NBA’s most unique young stars.

“He had a great game tonight,” Washington added. “He almost hit every shot he took. We’ve got to do a better job of not fouling, a better job of being solid. It’s a team effort. We can’t just leave one guy on him.”

The Mavericks (0-1) will look to regroup when they host the Washington Wizards on Friday night, while Wembanyama and the Spurs (1-0) return home following a statement win led by their rising superstar.