The Dallas Mavericks faced the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night for their first game for the second straight year. The Mavericks defeated the Spurs 120-109 in the former’s home opener at the American Airlines Center. Dallas improved to 1-0, while San Antonio fell to 0-1.
Luka Doncic led the Mavericks with 28 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists in 36 minutes. Klay Thompson added 22 points, seven rebounds, and one assist in 26 minutes. Thompson hit six three-pointers and set a Mavericks franchise record for most three-pointers made in a Mavericks’ debut.
Dallas Mavericks vs. San Antonio Spurs Recap
The Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs’ I-35 rivalry often featured contested games. Thursday’s contested matchup was no different for the two teams. Luka Doncic has been a force to be reckoned with, and the Spurs looked to rein Doncic in. Doncic, 25, recently said in a post-practice interview, “I think our mission is to set the tone early that way people know we are here and not joking around.”
Before the game, Dallas announced that they’d be without Dante Exum, Brandon Williams, and Kessler Edwards, while San Antonio ruled out Devin Vassell. Vassell, 24, missed San Antonio’s opener with a lingering foot injury.
The Mavericks and Spurs battled it out on the court throughout the first quarter. The Mavericks saw vintage Klay Thompson — who hit a noteworthy three-pointer — but trailed 22-20 at the end of the first.
The Mavericks and Spurs fluctuated back and forth in the second quarter. Dereck Lively II threw down a cruel dunk to enhance the Mavericks’ offense at one point, but the Mavericks’ offensive luck wasn’t great, as they trailed 47-44 at the end of the first half.
The Mavericks took advantage of the Spurs’ scoring drought in the third quarter. There was some Luka magic, such as Doncic’s sweet pass to PJ Washington. But the Mavericks’ double-digit lead dwindled into a single-digit one, 87-80, after three quarters. They picked up the pace early in the fourth quarter and reached the 100-point plateau midway through the fourth. The Mavericks’ X account asked if Doncic and Thompson were the new “Splash Brothers” minutes before the team’s 120-118 win over the Spurs.
Dallas Mavericks vs. San Antonio Spurs Highlights
The Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs’ game featured many highlights on both sides, such as rapper Lil Yachty’s appearance at the Mavericks vs. Spurs game. Lil Yachty, 27, first gained recognition with his hit single “One Night” in August 2015.
The Mavericks’ starting lineup consisted of Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, PJ Washington, and Daniel Gafford. KNBR radio host John Dickinson recently made headlines with his on-air comments. Dickinson claimed that Thompson sucked the life out of the Golden State Warriors in his final two years in the Bay Area.
The Spurs’ starting lineup boasted Chris Paul, Julian Champagnie, Harrison Barnes, Jeremy Sochan, and Victor Wembanyama. Wenbanyama, 20, was recently praised by former President Barack Obama, who said that it was hard to take your eyes off of him on the court. Obama, 63, is an NBA fan and former high school basketball player.
In Case You Missed It
WFAA published an article explaining how to watch Dallas Mavericks games on KFAA for free via antenna. The three-step process is simple: You push the “menu” or “input” button on your remote, go to the “channel” or “TV” or “setup” menu option, and select “scan” or “auto scan.”
Dallas also exercised the third-year rookie options for Dereck Lively II and Olivier-Maxence Prosper. Lively II, 20, recently discussed in ESPN’s “Clutch: The NBA Playoffs” feature how important it was to have his teammates around him after his mother, Kathy Drysdale, succumbed to Hodgkin’s Lymphoma this past April. The Mavericks added a new Western Conference Champions banner to the rafters of the American Airlines Center after last year’s run to the NBA Finals, the Mavericks’ third Western Conference Championship in franchise history. The team’s previous two Western Conference Championships were in 2006 and 2011.
The Mavericks named Brian Dameris as the replacement to replace the Mavericks’ longtime radio analyst Brad Davis. Dameris, who will serve as the team’s new radio analyst alongside Chuck Cooperstein, previously served as a studio analyst covering the team for Bally Sports Southwest. Dallas also extended their strategic sponsorship with Chime, the No. 1 most loved banking app. As a result, Chime’s logo will remain on the Mavericks’ four jerseys worn by players and on practice, authentic, and swingman jerseys sold in the Mavs Hangar.
The Mavericks announced a multi-year agreement with Govee, who is now the Mavericks’ official smart lighting sponsor. Govee’s solutions will transform the team’s gamedays into immersive, interactive experiences that capture the energy and excitement of courtside seats. The “Govee x Mavs Home Court” campaign will include an immersive gameday experience, exclusive fan merchandise and discounts, and in-arena interactive booths.
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