The Dallas Mavericks ended their four-game losing streak on Saturday night by defeating the San Antonio Spurs with a strong 110-93 victory. Kyrie Irving and Daniel Gafford both contributed 22 points to lead their team to victory, capitalizing on Spurs player Victor Wembanyama’s absence.
Wembanyama Sidelined
San Antonio’s 7-foot-3 standout player who won the Rookie of the Year award missed the game due to a right knee injury suffered in the game against the Lakers on Friday. In the absence of Wembanyama, the Spurs found it difficult to hold onto their advantage, especially in the key area, with Dallas outscoring them 46-22 in the first three quarters.
Mavericks Dominate the Third Quarter
The Mavericks shifted the momentum of the game towards the end of the first half. A crucial defensive maneuver from Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington Jr. paved the way for Naji Marshall to score a layup, securing the lead for Dallas. Dallas thrived in the third quarter, scoring 38 points compared to San Antonio’s 18, with a 59.1% shooting accuracy.
After sitting out the last game due to a shoulder sprain, Irving came back and guided Dallas with the help of Daniel Gafford, who scored his highest number of points this season. Luka Doncic chipped in 16 points, six rebounds, and six assists in a short amount of time while the Mavericks relied on their bench, which scored a season-high 54 points.
Spurs’ Efforts Fall Short
Zach Collins took over as the starter in place of Wembanyama and scored 20 points to lead San Antonio. Julian Champagnie scored 13 points in the first half, but the Spurs had a hard time on offense, only shooting 22.7% in the third quarter.
What’s Next
The Spurs will be back at home to play three games, beginning with a matchup against Oklahoma City in an NBA Cup game on Tuesday. The Mavericks have a fast turnaround as they play a Sunday night game against Oklahoma City.
Dallas is hopeful that this win will kickstart their season and help them gain momentum going forward.
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