Mavericks Pull Away Late in Season-Opening Win Over Spurs as Klay Thompson Makes Triumphant Dallas Debut

As Thompson later admitted, there were nerves, but once his first shot found the net, the jitters melted away, and Thompson never looked back. He ended the night shooting 7-of-13 from the field and 6-of-10 from beyond the arc, setting a franchise record for most threes made in a Mavericks debut.

“Well, the feelings were a lot of nerves, anxiousness,” Thompson said. “But once you see one go through, you feel great. It’s only one game in October, but it feels good just to get the first one out of the way, and setting a record is always a great feeling and something I’ll never take for granted.”

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The night they also featured a lighthearted moment when Thompson found himself wide open amid a 16-3 run early in the fourth quarter. Off of a Stack pick-and-roll with Thompson as the back-screener, Dončić hit him with a pass that left him so wide open that he took a dribble, paused, and lined up the shot, sinking a three-pointer after chatting with former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, seated courtside.

“When you’re getting ready to shoot the ball, and you’re that wide open, sometimes you overthink it,” Thompson said. “I heard Luka was running down the floor, though. Happy I made it and made him not look stupid.”

Leading into their first game together, Dončić was confident neither he nor Thompson would need to adjust. This confidence showed on the court, and Dončić praised just how much easier it gets playing next to Thompson, given how much attention he commands for his shooting prowess.

“It’s easy to play with a guy like that,” Dončić said of Thompson. “It makes my life, and Kai’s easier; it makes the whole team’s life easier. It’s a lot of space, so it’s great.”

Dončić’s Double-Double Leads Mavericks

After a four-month layoff, Dončić described his first-half play as “terrible” and admitted he felt rusty coming out of the gate. He shot 4-of-14 overall and 0-of-5 in the first half with 9 points but scored an efficient 19 points to close the game.

“I think we can play a lot better than that,” Dončić said. “It’s our first game together. It’s going to take time to get used to it, which is normal. I’m very excited for the whole season. I was terrible. I was rusty the whole first half. The third quarter, it kind of opened up. The legs were back.”

It was far from just Dončić, who needed some time to build a rhythm. The Mavericks struggled to score throughout the first half as Dallas shot 19-of-53 overall and 6-of-23 from the perimeter. The Mavericks often settled for tough shots without creating advantages by attacking the paint enough. The team frequently deployed lineups without a traditional secondary ball handler until the second quarter’s final phases, making it easier for the defense to load up and cause Dallas to become stagnant. Regardless, typical shotmaking results weren’t in basic pick-and-roll and isolation circumstances during this part of the game.

Dončić was dominant in the second half, with his shotmaking experiencing an uptick and his passing generating some pivotal shots. With Dallas holding a slim lead, the Mavericks ramped up their defensive pressure, igniting a 22-6 run that showed off their potential as a new-look group.

Dončić’s signature play came when he maneuvered through heavy traffic under the basket and managed a no-look, over-the-shoulder pass over Wembanyama to Washington, who drained a corner three-pointer to extend Dallas’ lead to 69-55. The lead grew to 21 points, and the team scored 40 points in the third quarter and 77 in the second half to close the game.

The night was also historic for Dončić, who recorded his second 25-point double-double in a season opener. He joins Dirk Nowitzki as the only Mavericks player to accomplish the feat multiple times. Thompson marveled at the unique impact Dončić provides with his ability to control the game.

“It was great to be out there with Luka. What an incredible talent,” Thompson said. “I mean, it doesn’t make any sense because it’s what we’re taught growing up as far as being the best basketball players [that] you gotta jump the highest, you gotta run the fastest, but somehow Luka defies that. He plays at his own speed and manipulates the game as good as I’ve ever seen anyone do it. It’s great to be a recipient of that and get great looks. Hopefully, we can elevate each other’s games and our squad, and it’s a great start to a long year. But it’s something that we can build up.”

Gafford Starts, Lively Provides Energy Off the Bench

After not revealing his starting lineup when speaking to reporters leading into the game, Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd deployed Daniel Gafford as the starting center, with Dereck Lively II coming off the bench. Gafford ended the night with 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists in 18 minutes. Meanwhile, Lively was a key contributor to the second unit. The second-year center played 27 minutes and finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists, tying his career-high in assists.

“I think you can look at the numbers. Last year, we made the change, and I think we won 16-2 or 18-2, something like that,” Kidd said about starting Gafford over Lively. “You look at the practice that we’ve had here over the week, both centers on both teams—when you talk about Gaff with the first group and D Live with the second group—was really, really good.”

Kidd explained how he appreciates the connection Gafford and Lively share, where they are motivated to do whatever the team needs to be successful. While there will be times when Lively starts this season, the team appreciates the energy he provides off the bench as a spark.

“I love that they push each other in practice, they make each other better, and they cheer for one another when we take the floor as the Mavs,” Kidd said. “So it’s an opportunity to start Gaff here, and we’ll look somewhere down the road to start D Live. But what I love about D Live coming off the bench is his energy, and that’s something that’s contagious. When you look at a team, there are going to be nights when we might be low energy, but D Live, as we’ve talked throughout preseason, we plug into him, and guys, you know, recharge or feed off that energy. He has a big responsibility with that second group.”

Lively’s growth was evident, not just in the box score but in how he handled his matchups, particularly against Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama. Despite Wembanyama’s 17 points, Dallas managed to limit his impact, forcing the 7-foot-4 forward into a tough 5-of-18 shooting night.

“I feel like we were very connected,” Lively said. “Even at times when we weren’t talking, we knew we had to be more active, more vocal, and just more disciplined on the defensive end.”

Hardy Shines Off the Bench

In addition to the Mavericks’ star power, Jaden Hardy played an essential role off the bench, contributing 11 points in 20 minutes. His performance was particularly impactful during the first half with three timely catch-and-shoot three-pointers.

Kidd emphasized Hardy’s growth as a playmaker and how he’s earned his role as a key part of the second unit. The third-year guard recently earned a three-year, $18 million contract extension with the Mavericks.

“Hardy was a big plus for us in that first half,” Kidd said. “He got everybody kind of settled down because we couldn’t see a three go in the hoop until he started to make some for us. And I thought that became contagious. But his energy, his playmaking, his ability to find the open guy, he did that well tonight, too. So I think he’s comfortable with his role.”

Second-Half Surge Changes the Game

Their improved defense and shooting defined the Mavericks’ third-quarter surge. Dončić, Thompson, and Irving combined to force three consecutive turnovers, disrupting San Antonio’s rhythm and shifting the momentum firmly in Dallas’ favor.

The Mavericks struggled to generate clean looks consistently in the first half. Still, with better lineup combinations deployed after halftime and more effective use of screening and off-ball activity in the offense, there was a clear difference after the break. Some of it was naturally better shotmaking, but the approach was better. After struggling from deep in the first half, the Mavericks found their groove and hit 13-of-21 three-pointers after halftime.

Kidd emphasized that defense was a focal point in training camp, especially with Dallas’s current offensive firepower. Given how active the group was on that end—with the top players setting the tone—it proved to be a difference-making factor.

“It was a good team performance,” Kidd said. “That first half, anxious, excited. Defensively we were good to be able to keep us close. In that second half, Luka, Kai, and Klay were able to pick up full court, and we got some deflections and steals. Our defense helped us win this game as much as (scoring) 120 points. Good team win we can build from. We got a lot to learn.”

While the Mavericks’ 22-6 run coming out of halftime showcased the team’s potential with Thompson, it wasn’t what ended the game. Despite that initial surge, the Spurs made it a two-point game (72-70) with less than four minutes left in the third quarter despite the Mavericks leading by 14 points using a 15-3 run.

The Mavericks picked on a lineup that featured Zach Collins at center to regain momentum, beginning with Dončić completing a right-hand scoop finish on a drive off a handoff before checking out of the game. Hardy made a series of plays from Zoom action, including hitting Lively on a rim dive after reading Collins was trying to hedge and recover. Hardy then drew a foul against the hedge on the next play.

Naji Marshall furthered the Mavericks’ momentum late in the third quarter by finding Kleber in transition for a corner three-pointer after attacking the paint as the initiator. Marshall then cut hard after a high post entry to Lively, resulting in a catch and finish, with the defense worried about Irving potentially getting a handoff. A full-court throw-ahead pass from Marshall to Irving in transition was a final notable play during this stretch. These plays flashed some of the team’s potential offensively in the second unit while regaining an eight-point lead.

The final period was when the team pulled away after starting with a seven-point advantage. It began with Dončić back-screening for Quentin Grimes, who the defense seemingly thought was going to screen for Dončić in a Zoom action handoff, resulting in a wide-open cut and finish. Dončić punished Jeremy Sochan for going under a handoff by pulling from deep. Thompson then was left wide open on a Stack pick-and-roll. A timeout was forced after Dončić pulled up in transition and converted against the contest, putting Dallas ahead 100-83 with under 10 minutes left to play.

The Mavericks’ momentum didn’t stop coming out of the stoppage. The Spurs continued to go under against Dončić, with Wembanyama in drop coverage, so Dončić flowed immediately into a step-back going to his right after a handoff from Lively and made it a 20-point game. Wembanyama scored on the other end by hitting a turnaround jumper on Grimes in the post after bringing the ball up and drawing the mismatch on a switch after an inverted Horns flare set created it.

However, the Spurs continued to get picked on for sticking with the same coverage and being predictable. Lively set a high ball screen for Dončić with Wembanyama in drop coverage while Thompson faked a back-screen in Stack pick-and-roll (Spain Leak) to leak out to the three-point line. Dončić drew Thompson’s man by faking a pull-up and waiting to draw the commitment before making the pass, resulting in a clean catch-and-shoot jumper to put Dallas up 21. With just over eight minutes remaining in regulation, the game was practically over.

Dallas kept making plays midway through the fourth quarter when a broken play created an opportunity for Washington to attack the paint off the catch while guarded by Paul. Washington turned the corner quickly and drew Wembanyama’s commitment as the rim protector deep on the drive—setting up a wraparound pass to Lively for an emphatic dunk, which allowed the Mavericks to go back up by 21 points.

Responding to the Spurs scoring, Thompson’s pull-up jumper in pick-and-roll led to Lively grabbing the offensive rebound and finding Washington for an open three-pointer, prompting San Antonio to call a timeout. With 5:59 left on the game clock, the Spurs pulled their starters down 21.

San Antonio’s Struggles

Amid Wembanyama’s poor shooting night, Sochan and Julian Champagnie led San Antonio with 18 points each. Still, it wasn’t enough to keep pace with the Mavericks once they started firing on all cylinders. San Antonio was plagued by 19 turnovers, leading to 17 points for the Mavericks. Dallas also had a 14-point advantage in second-chance scoring and a 9-point edge in fastbreak points.

“I thought [Lively] and [Gafford] did a good job on Victor when they were on him,” Kidd said. “We’re asking our fives to be able to guard the smalls, and I thought they did a good job there, too… I thought both centers played great, but D Live’s energy was really high with that second group.”

Chris Paul, making his debut for San Antonio, had a quieter night offensively, scoring just three points. Still, his playmaking was on display, as he dished out 8 assists and grabbed 7 rebounds. Paul’s leadership is seen as a crucial element for a young Spurs team trying to end a five-season playoff drought, and despite the loss, his presence was a stabilizing force.

“We just tried to make it tough on him,” Kidd said of Paul. “He’s a floor general, and they’ll find their groove.”

A similar defensive formula that helped the Mavericks get to the NBA Finals last season was deployed in this game. A priority was to identify the weakest link in shooting and frequently crossmatch in the frontcourt to have a wing guard, Wembanyama, while the center sags off a poor shooter like Sochan to protect the paint. Other times, the Mavericks guarded straight up with their center. Both approaches proved to be effective in containing Wembanyama. Dallas even sprinkled in some Scram switching to avoid giving up a size mismatch after an earlier switch.

“Just throwing different bodies at him, try and give him different coverages. Try to keep him as far away from the paint or the basket as we can,” Kidd said. “He’s long, he’s talented. And we just try to, you know, keep fresh bodies on him and give him different looks. I thought the group did a good job. Again, he can put the ball on the floor, he can score it. We just try to make it tough on him.”

Thompson emphasized how Wembanyama is on track to be the “future” of the NBA, and the team effectively contained him in this game. However, there were shots Thompson felt Wembanyama had that were favorable but just didn’t drop.

“He’s the future of this league, obviously. He does things that no player can really do, especially being able to get it off the rim,” Thompson said of Wembanyama. “But he had some good looks and he’s, like I said before, he’s the future of the NBA, just with his ability to shoot from the perimeter and block shots. It’s incredible what he can do.”

Building Chemistry Amidst High Expectations

Dallas’ offense underwhelmed in the first half, but the flashes of chemistry between Dončić, Thompson, and Irving were undeniable. The second half showcased how the trio can complement each other, with Thompson stretching the floor, Dončić orchestrating the offense, and Irving making plays.

“It was incredible, especially to start that second half, picking up full court, causing some turnovers,” Thompson said. “Hopefully, we can elevate each other’s games and our squad, and it’s a great start to a long year.”

The Spurs will look to regroup as they head home for two games against the Houston Rockets, starting Saturday. Meanwhile, the Mavericks will take their momentum on the road, facing the Phoenix Suns in their road opener on Saturday night.

“It’s only one game, but it’s a great start,” Kidd said. “We’ve got a lot to learn, but I like what I saw tonight.”

Thompson felt it was a good start, but there was a lot of basketball left to be played, with the team’s goal being to win the championship.

“Tonight was a great start, but I’m not satisfied. I mean, we have so much basketball ahead, and from the experience I’ve gained, you can never be too high throughout the regular season,” Thompson said. “And we have really big goals, so one good win at home is not going to satisfy any of us. We want to be really, really good this year, get back to where they were at last year.”

In their next performance, the Mavericks’ offseason additions of Marshall and Grimes would surely like to produce a more efficient offensive outing. Both players scored 2 points while shooting 1-of-6 from the floor. Kleber added 3 points and 4 rebounds.

The Mavericks’ strong start to the season sets the tone for a team aiming to build on last season’s success. They will practice on Friday to prepare for the Suns before departing for Phoenix ahead of Saturday’s matchup.

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