The Spurs began the 2024/25 season with a lopsided loss that also left some room for optimism. The 120-109 remaining rating doesn’t mirror how a lot they struggled to include Luka Doncic’s Mavericks within the second half or how onerous it was for them to attain at occasions but it surely reveals that they didn’t quit at any level.
It wasn’t the prettiest of begins, because the Spurs struggled to determine Wembanyama inside and the Mavericks missed open photographs, however each groups had some positives to distract them from their points. For Dallas, the silver lining was their physicality, which induced some turnovers and gave them an edge on the offensive glass. For San Antonio, it was the play of Harrison Barnes, who after a quiet preseason got here out wanting rejuvenated and hitting photographs to permit them to seize a lead. Regardless of the sloppiness, it was an entertaining opening body largely performed with good tempo and ball motion from each squads. Spurs followers additionally acquired to see Stephon Citadel make his official debut and never look misplaced guarding Luka Doncic. The Spurs won’t have been executing at a excessive stage, however had been nonetheless forward by two after a low-scoring first quarter regardless of few contributions from Wemby and Chris Paul.
The second body adopted an analogous sample as the primary. Dallas’ physicality restricted Wembanyama’s influence however one of many forwards, on this case Julian Champagnie, acquired sizzling and helped put factors on the board. On the opposite finish, San Antonio’s protection was strong sufficient regardless of some errors to maintain the Mavericks from placing collectively a giant run at the same time as a few threes went in for the house workforce. Gregg Popovich gave Blake Wesley some minutes, identical to he had achieved with Citadel earlier, The extent of play was low, however the recreation remained emotionally charged, with the Mavericks attempting to impose their will because the aggressor and the Spurs refusing to fold. The celebrities and large names everybody tuned in to see didn’t shine, however there have been sufficient good moments and sufficient tactical tweaks to make the primary half entertaining. San Antonio was up two on the break.
The Mavericks are a fantastic capturing workforce, so the return to normalcy within the second half wasn’t surprising. Dallas opened the third quarter with three unanswered threes to take a lead they might by no means give up. Their protection improved and led to transition alternatives and open appears from past the arc that fell. Because the onslaught continued, it felt like a blowout was in retailer, however the Spurs responded. The trouble elevated on protection and whereas the offense remained restricted, it was additionally much less sloppy, limiting the fastbreak alternatives for the house workforce. Dallas remained in management and closed the body properly to hold an eight-point lead into the fourth quarter however needed to combat for it. A comeback didn’t appear doubtless, but it surely wasn’t out of the query and that was encouraging in opposition to a top quality opponent.
Sadly, issues unraveled within the remaining interval. It began with an offensive foul by Jeremy Sochan that was deemed a flagrant foul. Then two main defensive breakdowns within the first couple of minutes gave the Mavs some simple buckets simply as Luka Doncic was heating up. The famous person guard took over the sport, destroying the Spurs with easy pick-and-rolls whereas San Antonio struggled mightily to attain. A recreation that had been shut for many of its period now had Dallas up 21 at one level in opposition to an opponent that lacks firepower beneath best circumstances and much more so with out Devin Vassell. Popovich emptied his bench on the midway level within the quarter and the third stringers put collectively a mini run but it surely wasn’t sufficient.
Play of the sport
Usually we go along with a Spurs play right here, however that is simply absurd by Luka.
Sport notes
As most opponents do, the Mavs put their middle on Jeremy Sochan and parked him within the paint to assist on Wembanyama. That’s not stunning. What was new was how Pop managed his rotations within the first half, having Wemby relaxation early after which examine again in as soon as Sochan was on the bench. It could possibly be a superb technique to separate these two to enhance spacing for Wemby, however Pop didn’t do it within the second half and Wembanyama talked about how he nonetheless has some conditioning points after a busy summer time, so the early relaxation might merely be associated to that. It’s nonetheless one thing to observe going ahead.
Julian Champagnie and Harrison Barnes mixed for 35 factors and 5 assists. Dallas centered its efforts on stopping Wembanyama and limiting Chris Paul’s influence as a scorer and succeeded at each however the work the 2 forwards did on offense saved the Spurs in it within the first half. Sochan additionally did his factor by slicing and enjoying with hustle on his option to 18 factors, six rebounds and two assists whereas additionally guarding Luka Doncic. The position gamers did their half.
The Spurs wanted another person to step up and make up for the absence of Vassell and Keldon Johnson couldn’t do it. Johnson had a few good drives however missed a few open threes and struggled to make his mark on the sport off the bench.
Zach Collins did properly within the 13 minutes he was on the ground. He hit a 3 and rebounded properly. Tre Jones had a quiet recreation, logging three factors and three assists in 16 minutes however didn’t flip the ball over. There was nothing notably spectacular concerning the efficiency of the backup level guard and backup middle however the loss wasn’t on them.
Stephon Citadel didn’t have eye-popping numbers or spectacular highlights however he dealt with himself properly on each ends in his debut. It’s early but it surely’s not onerous to see him earn extra minutes if he will get the chance.
Klay Thompson shined on offense in his Mavericks debut, ending with six made threes and 22 factors. Defensively he’s going to wrestle however he makes Dallas even more durable to protect. Every time the Spurs made a mistake, he made them pay.
Subsequent recreation: vs. Rockets on Saturday
The Spurs’s first house recreation might be in opposition to the Rockets, a workforce they are going to face on Saturday after which once more on Monday.
