For three quarters Wednesday night, the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks traded punches beneath the bright lights of the American Airlines Center, neither willing to blink. When the moment finally demanded composure, the Spurs found it — in their stars, in their depth and in a closing burst that turned a tight contest into a statement road victory.
Behind a sharp finish in the final minutes, San Antonio pulled away for a 135-123 win, silencing a raucous Dallas crowd and capping one of the Spurs’ most complete offensive performances of the season.
“We did a little bit better in our game plan and execution,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said. “We were wanting to be perfect, but we did a good job. Especially at the end of shoring it up.”
The Spurs let their intentions be known early. The ball zipped from side to side, shooters stepped confidently into open looks, and Victor Wembanyama wasted little time making his presence felt. The 7-foot-4 franchise piece stretched the floor with early three-pointers and punished switches inside, setting the tone for a night in which San Antonio’s offense rarely stalled.
Dallas answered with its own firepower. Each Spurs run seemed to be met by a Mavericks response, and by halftime the game had settled into a rhythm — fast, physical and unrelenting. The Mavericks leaned on their young talent to keep pace, repeatedly attacking the rim and refusing to let the visitors create separation.
“Vic’s energy, especially lately, has just been setting the tone for us, anchoring us defensively. Offensively, it’s obviously great to make shots, but his ability to just draw so much attention, make plays, being a willing passer, that’s just allowed us to get into a flow,” Spurs forward Harrison Barnes said.
That resistance peaked in the third quarter. San Antonio’s lead shrank as Dallas chipped away possession by possession, briefly turning the game into a one-score affair. The building stirred, and momentum threatened to swing.
Instead, the Spurs steadied themselves.
As the fourth quarter unfolded, San Antonio leaned on patience and execution. De’Aaron Fox, quiet for stretches, found his rhythm when it mattered most, burying a pair of critical three-pointers that pushed the Spurs back in front. Wembanyama continued to draw defensive attention, creating space for teammates and anchoring the offense during the game’s defining stretch.
With the Mavericks pressing, the Spurs answered nearly every challenge. A timely basket here, a defensive stop there — and suddenly the margin grew. A late emphatic finish at the rim punctuated a decisive closing run, draining the remaining hope from Dallas’ comeback bid.
By night’s end, balance told the story. Seven Spurs reached double figures, a reflection of an offense that never relied on a single answer and a roster that proved capable of closing on the road.
For San Antonio, Thursday was a confident road win forged in pressure, sealed by poise, and carried home with the quiet satisfaction that comes from finishing the job when it mattered most.
”If there’s one message to take away, it’s that we trust ourselves,” Wembanyama said. “We trust the process. And what I appreciate is that the leadership trusts those guys, just as I do. So we’re all on the same wavelength.”
* With the win, the Spurs are now at 35 wins, surpassing their win total from a year ago.
* The victory marked another confidence-building road performance for a young Spurs roster learning how to finish games away from home.
* Victor Wembanyama set the tone early, stretching the floor and drawing defensive attention that opened looks for teammates. He finished with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. In two games against Dallas this season, Wemby is averaging 34.5 points per game.
* 3 point shooting was won by the good guys: Spurs 41.5 % (17-41); Mavericks 38.7 % (12-31).
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