Victor Wembanyama begins his third NBA season tonight (Photo via X)
The San Antonio Spurs tip off the 2025-26 regular season tonight with a game in Dallas against the Mavericks. The Spurs are riding high following an undefeated preseason in which San Antonio won all five exhibition games with an average margin of victory of 17 points.
Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs in scoring during preseason play, averaging 17.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.0 steals in 20.4 minutes per game. The tall Frenchman shot 65.9% from the field, 50.0% from three-point range and 88.0% at the free throw line.
The Spurs had five other players average double-digits during exhibition action : Stephon Castle (15.0 points), Keldon Johnson (14.4), Julian Champagnie (13.6), Luke Kornet (12.6) and Devin Vassell (12.0).
After tonight’s road game in Dallas, San Antonio next plays on Friday in New Orleans against the Pelicans. The first home game at the Frost Bank Center is Sunday versus the Brooklyn Nets.
San Antonio Spurs Injury Update
Unfortunately, the Spurs enter the regular season banged up. Starting point guard De’Aaron Fox is out with a hamstring injury. Jeremy Sochan is out with a wrist injury. Kelly Olynyk (heel) and Lindy Waters III (eye surgery) will also miss tonight’s affair.
The good news is those four players are expected back relatively soon. Fox, Sochan and Olynyk missed the enter preseason but all three should be back within a couple weeks. Waters is expected to be back in a matter of days.
San Antonio Spurs Starting Lineup
With Fox sidelined, the starters against the Mavericks are clear. We can safely say that head coach Mitch Johnson will go with Victor Wembanyama at center, Harrison Barnes at power forward, Julian Champagnie at small forward, Devin Vassell at shooting guard and Stephon Castle at point guard.
The bench unit will likely be powered by rookie Dylan Harper, the second overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The two other players who will undoubtedly see action from the reserve unit are forward Keldon Johnson and center Luke Kornet. In fact, there’s a good chance that Kornet sees minutes next to Wembanyama, even though both players are primarily centers.
Betting Guide: Spurs at Mavericks
The Mavericks are favored by 2.5 points and the over/under is 223.5 points. The smart money is on the Spurs. San Antonio played really well in the preseason and should be able to keep up that strong level of play even though they’re on the road as the regular season begins.