The Mavs and Spurs competed in a tightly contested matchup to open the regular season in what marked the NBA debut for Victor Wembanyama.
After deploying rookie Dereck Lively II as the starting center for all four of the Mavs' preseason games, the Mavs opted to start Maxi Kleber at the five. Last season, Dallas most frequently utilized Dwight Powell in that role, but anticipation had built for Lively to take over that role potentially.
However, after a pair of made 3s from Devin Vassell, the Spurs took a game-high 12-point lead late in the second quarter. Dallas responded before the break, with Grant Williams scoring six of the team's following eight points. San Antonio led 68-64 at halftime. Doncic was aggressive in looking to score to set the tone for the Mavs early in the final period, scoring in the paint on a drive and converting a mid-range turnaround jumper. The Slovenian superstar managed to draw Wembanyama's fifth foul in the process, but regardless, the Spurs held firm to lead 101-100 with 8:16 left to play.
After an air-ball from 3 by Kleber, the Spurs scored three unanswered points to take a slight lead before Doncic used a slow-step layup for an and-one. After making the free throw, the Mavs took a 118-117 lead with 2:28 remaining to play.
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