In an exciting start to the season, Luka Dončić led the Dallas Mavericks to victory against the San Antonio Spurs with 28 points and 10 rebounds. Klay Thompson made a strong debut for Dallas, contributing 22 points to a 120-109 win on Thursday night.
Kyrie Irving added 15 points for the Mavericks, who are the defending Western Conference champions. Dončić also provided eight assists, while Thompson grabbed seven rebounds, demonstrating an all-around team effort.
Victor Wembanyama, entering his second year with the Spurs, struggled with his shooting, scoring 17 points on 5-of-18 attempts. Meanwhile, Jeremy Sochan and Julian Champagnie each contributed 18 points to the Spurs’ tally.
Insights into the game
For the Spurs, Thompson’s first appearance was noteworthy, but Chris Paul’s debut in San Antonio marked a milestone as he entered his 20th NBA season. Despite a tough offensive outing, with his only points coming on a third-quarter 3-pointer, Paul proved his worth with eight assists and seven rebounds, helping the Spurs’ young roster develop.
The Mavericks focused on defense with their dynamic trio of Dončić, Irving and Thompson. A highlight of the third quarter was a sequence of three straight San Antonio turnovers, started by a steal by Thompson followed by two by Irving. However, Dallas only capitalized two points from these opportunities.
Fundamental game
A standout moment occurred in the third quarter when the Mavericks extended their lead to 69-55. Dončić, under pressure near the basket, threw a no-look pass over his head to PJ Washington Jr., who hit an open 3-pointer.
Statistical highlighting
Dallas improved their perimeter shooting significantly in the second half, hitting 13 of 18 from three-point range after a tepid 6 of 23 in the first half.
Looking ahead
The Spurs will face the Houston Rockets in back-to-back home games starting Saturday. Meanwhile, the Mavericks will play Phoenix in their next matchup on the same day.
