Victor Wembanyama Scores 23 as Spurs Beat Short-Handed Mavericks 122-106 for First Win of the Season
DALLAS — The San Antonio Spurs earned their first victory of the season on October 24, beating the short-handed Dallas Mavericks 122-106 at American Airlines Center. Victor Wembanyama scored 23 points on 9-of-18 shooting with seven rebounds and four blocks, Dylan Harper added 22 points, and De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle scored 19 points apiece as the Spurs avoided their first 0-3 start since 2008-09. Both teams are now 1-2.
Dallas played without Cooper Flagg, who sprained his left shoulder in a win at Indiana on October 23 and will be reevaluated next week, and without Kyrie Irving, who was held out for left knee injury management. Rookie Sergio de Larrea led the Mavericks with 21 points off the bench, while Marcus Sasser, P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford scored 12 points each, Gafford adding nine rebounds. Dallas shot 51.1 percent from the field to San Antonio's 47.5 percent but committed 21 turnovers.
San Antonio led 68-60 at halftime after Wembanyama, who had just one point before the middle of the second quarter, threw down two alley-oop dunks within two minutes and reached 12 points by the break. The Spurs led 77-63 early in the third quarter before Dallas cut the margin to 92-89 entering the fourth. San Antonio opened the final period with an 11-3 run to lead 103-92 with 9:05 left, outscored Dallas 30-17 in the quarter and led by as many as 23 points down the stretch. The Spurs grabbed 15 offensive rebounds and won second-chance points 25-10.
"Effort goes a long way," Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson said after the game. "As simple as it sounds, and as talented as these guys are, consistent effort with just a little bit of togetherness and execution can really be something to grow upon and build upon." San Antonio hosts the Sacramento Kings on October 27; Dallas faces the Miami Heat on October 25.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：马刺球星 Victor Wembanyama 本人近照（2024年资料图）。照片：Frenchieinportland，CC BY 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: Spurs star Victor Wembanyama (2024 file photo). Photo by Frenchieinportland, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
