The Dallas Mavericks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 120-109 in the two team’s opening bout of the 2024-25 season, with the Mavericks picking up where they left off as the reigning Western Conference Champions. Despite a challenging first half where the Mavs couldn’t get their buckets to fall, a combination of strong defense and accurate outside shooting allowed them to comfortably seal this win.
Luka Doncic led the Mavs with 28 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists but Klay Thompson was the star for many with his 22 points and seven rebounds during his team debut. Kyrie Irving had a quiet evening, scoring 15 points with two steals and a block over the game, resting the entire fourth quarter. Center Dereck Lively II was great off the bench with 15 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists.
The Spurs were led by Julian Champagnie putting up 18 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks while Jeremy Sochan also had 18 points with six rebounds. Debutant Harrison Barnes had 17 points after starting the game a perfect 5-5 from the field, while Chris Paul dished eight assists in the win. Victor Wembanyama struggled mightily, managing just 17 points on poor efficiency.
Here are three major takeaways from this Western Conference clash.
Mavericks’ Stat Leaders:
Luka Doncic: 28 PTS, 10 REB, 8 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK (9-25 FG, 4-11 3PT, 6-8 FT)
Klay Thompson: 22 PTS, 7 REB, 1 AST, 3 STL, (7-13 FG, 6-10 3PT, 2-2 FT)
Dereck Lively II: 15 PTS, 11 REB, 6 AST, 1 STL (6-8 FG, 3-5 FT)
Kyrie Irving: 15 PTS, 3 REB, 2 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK (6-17 FG, 3-7 3PT)
P.J. Washington: 11 PTS, 5 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL (4-11 FG, 2-7 3PT, 1-2 FT)
Spurs’ Stat Leaders:
Julian Champagnie: 18 PTS, 7 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, 2 BLK (7-12 FG, 4-8 3PT)
Jeremy Sochan: 18 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST (6-11 FG, 1-2 3PT, 5-7 FT)
Victor Wembanyama: 17 PTS, 9 REB, 1 AST, 1 BLK (5-18 FG, 1-8 3PT, 6-6 FT)
Harrison Barnes: 17 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL (7-10 FG, 2-5 3PT, 1-2 FT)
Chris Paul: 3 PTS, 7 REB, 8 AST, 1 STL (1-6 FG, 1-4 3PT)
Klay Thompson Was A Two-Way Presence
Klay Thompson had the ideal debut against the Spurs, showing off his shooting prowess by going 6-10 from three-point range. His defensive aggressiveness must also be acknowledged, as Thompson got three steals and was an engaged perimeter defensive presence for the 26 minutes he spent on the court. His six threes are tied for the most by a debuting Mavs player in history.
Klay taking a dribble and Luka sprinting away 🤣💀 Mavs on demon time #MFFL
— MFFL (@Mavs_FFL) October 25, 2024
Thompson’s preseason inconsistencies had many people overthinking his fit with the Mavericks, but this season opener was his first time sharing the court with Luka Doncic. Doncic and Irving’s presence together allowed Klay to get some phenomenal looks throughout the game, with the Mavericks’ offense generating great shots despite struggling to convert in the first half.
Klay looks like a seamless offensive fit while also being a defensive presence. His aggressiveness on the boards was great to see as well. If Klay puts in an effort like this, even nights with poor offensive production will be acceptable due to his impact defensively.
The Mavericks Defense Doesn’t Look Like A Problem
When the Mavericks signed Klay Thompson and let Derrick Jones Jr. walk, many people were concerned their defense would regress back to one of the worst in the NBA. This win over the Spurs showed the opposite, with the Mavericks hanging their hats on being tough to break down defensively.
Dallas forced 19 turnovers while registering nine steals and five blocks in the win. What was most notable was their constant activity on defense, trying to cut off lanes while maintaining strong principles from a POA perspective. The Mavs also aggressively crashed the glass, grabbing 17 offensive rebounds over the contest.
Luka held up defensively as well, flowing into the Mavs switch-heavy system and even getting some great defensive highlights, like a veteran strip on Victor Wembanyama.
Wembanyama’s performance indicates how the Mavs were defending in this game, with the Spurs center going just 5-18 from the field while turning the ball over four times. If the Mavs defense can sustain this, not many teams in the NBA can compete with them.
Center Play Is Key For The Mavs Success
One of the reasons the Mavericks made an NBA Finals run last season was their sensational center play featuring both Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II. They play a similar style and have been used interchangeably since Gafford joined the team, with tonight a great example of their value to the Mavs.
The centers combined to put up 24 points, 17 rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and one block. Maxi Kleber played a few minutes at center and had a solid showing, hitting a three and blocking a shot.
The Mavericks shot 19-44 (43.1%) from three as a team primarily due to the Spurs’ defense not being able to collapse to protect Gafford and Lively from converting lobs and creating mismatches in the paint while also maintaining their integrity for perimeter defense.
Wembanyama’s cold night was largely due to the presence of both centers, never giving Wemby an easy matchup he could dominate. Lively’s passing out of the short roll and ability to feed others the ball alongside Gafford’s intimidating rim protection have been.
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