Spurs shut down Mavericks’ comeback with late shots in 135–123 win as Wemby and Cooper Flagg had epic battle [VIDEO]

San Antonio steadies itself in the fourth after Dallas trims a double-digit gap to one behind Flagg’s surge.

San Antonio’s 135–123 win over Dallas unfolded through shifting momentum, early Spurs control, and a late surge that silenced the Mavericks’ strongest push of the night. Victor Wembanyama set the tone with early shot-making, seven Spurs reached double figures, and De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle delivered the answers that closed the door after Dallas cut the margin to one.

The Mavericks stayed alive behind Cooper Flagg’s second-half eruption and Naji Marshall’s scoring, but their shorthanded roster and defensive gaps made it impossible to finish the comeback. San Antonio’s depth, spacing, and fourth-quarter composure shaped the separation that defined the final result.

And those swings set the stage for how each phase of the night unfolded.

San Antonio Layers Its Offense and Builds a Double-Digit Lead Before Halftime

The second quarter belonged to the Spurs, who elevated their execution with a mix of perimeter accuracy and interior strength. Wembanyama reached the 20-point mark by halftime, continuing to punish switches and handoff coverages with precise shot creation. His early three-point stretch not only supplied direct scoring but also manipulated Dallas’ defensive shell into constant rotation, leaving opportunities for teammates on drive-and-kick sequences. Harrison Barnes and Stephon Castle capitalized on these windows, combining perimeter rhythm with assertive cuts that widened the scoring margin.

Dallas attempted to counter through aggression, attacking early in the clock and seeking mismatches off screens. Cooper Flagg began to find more productive lanes, but without multiple creators available, the Mavericks struggled to sustain consecutive productive possessions. Each Dallas push surfaced in isolation, while San Antonio produced multi-action reads that forced extended defensive effort. The difference in continuity became visible as the Spurs maintained a steady pace while the Mavericks worked to avoid turnovers and contested jumpers.

By halftime, San Antonio had stretched the lead to 74–63. Their rebounding edge, ball movement, and collective scoring gave them a control that carried from the opening tip into the deeper stages of the game.

Flagg Ignites a Dallas Run That Cuts the Spurs’ Lead to One

The third quarter marked the moment when the Mavericks reshaped the tone of the game. Cooper Flagg delivered one of his strongest stretches as a rookie, attacking with precision and generating momentum-shifting baskets in transition and half-court sets. His ability to create scoring from varied spots on the floor elevated Dallas’ energy and forced San Antonio into more reactive defensive positions. With Naji Marshall joining the surge through timely jumpers and determined drives, Dallas carved a 13-point deficit down to a single point.

During this span, Dallas found its first true flow of the night. Rotations tightened, help defense improved, and the Mavericks’ activity on the perimeter disrupted San Antonio’s rhythm. Dallas strung together multiple stops for the first time, turning those defensive stands into timely baskets that ignited the arena. The push emphasized how strongly Flagg and Marshall were carrying a roster short on options, and how thin the margin was becoming for San Antonio.

Yet despite the momentum shift, the Spurs never surrendered the scoreboard. Timely baskets from Devin Vassell, composed sequences from De’Aaron Fox, and key rebounds prevented Dallas from taking the lead. The Mavericks entered the fourth quarter trailing 99–96, closer than at any point since the first period but still in pursuit.

Spurs Respond in the Fourth With Composure and Timely Shot-Making

Once Dallas closed the gap, San Antonio resurfaced with the most poised sequence of its night. The Spurs emphasized structure, deliberately working through screens and off-ball movement to generate higher-percentage looks. Fox took command of the offense, skillfully reading switches and leaning into jumpers that steadied San Antonio after the Mavericks’ charge. His deliberate pace and shot selection effectively muted the shift in momentum Dallas had spent an entire quarter building.

Wembanyama’s presence shaped the fourth just as it had the first. His gravity created hesitation in Dallas’ help coverage, giving Fox and Castle the operating space they needed to finish possessions cleanly. When the Mavericks attempted to trap or stunt, Wembanyama facilitated sequences that created open looks along the perimeter. His combination of scoring, rebounds, and interior contests delivered balance to the Spurs’ closing effort.

Castle’s emphatic putback dunk sealed the tone of the final minutes. It reflected San Antonio’s ability to stay aggressive despite Dallas’ attempts to disrupt rhythm. The Spurs reasserted their identity through execution, finishing the quarter with a 36–27 advantage and closing out a road win built on discipline more than momentum.

Wembanyama Headlines Early, While Castle, Barnes, and Fox Craft the Middle and Late Responses

Wembanyama’s performance shaped the structure of the night. His 29 points on efficient shooting underscored the versatility that continues to evolve with each season, while his rebounding, passing, and rim protection rounded out a complete showing. What defined his early stretch wasn’t simply accuracy, but the way those makes changed the spacing dynamic and let the Spurs’ offense expand beyond traditional sets. His ability to shoulder volume without compromising efficiency set the stage for the rest of the roster.

Castle provided San Antonio with vital flexibility. His 18 points, seven rebounds, and six assists powered critical stretches across the second and third quarters, anchoring possession sequences when Dallas began to build momentum. Barnes supplied immaculate shooting, finishing 5-of-7 from deep and punishing defensive lapses with veteran clarity. Alongside them, Fox delivered precisely when required, particularly in the fourth quarter where his late threes halted Dallas’ hopes of overtaking the lead.

Dallas’ production centered on Flagg and Marshall, who combined for 64 points and consistently carried the Mavericks. Their efforts illustrated both talent and potential, particularly Flagg’s historic fourth straight 30-point outing. Yet with multiple rotation players unavailable, the Mavericks lacked the counterbalance needed to extend their comeback into the final frame.

Fan Reactions Zero In on Flagg’s Streak, Wembanyama’s Range, and Dallas’ Extended Slide

Conversations across X captured the competing tones of the night. Spurs fans highlighted the stability of San Antonio’s closing execution, Wembanyama’s early surge, and the resilience displayed after Dallas narrowed the margin. Posts pointed to the Spurs’ depth and their ability to create answers regardless of which players Dallas targeted defensively. Analysts noted how the team’s collective identity appeared in rhythm despite the Mavericks’ forceful third-quarter run.

Dallas supporters expressed a mixture of frustration and admiration. Many cited the team’s six-game skid and the absence of key players, while others focused on Flagg’s continued ascent and the historic context of his scoring streak. His ability to deliver 30-point performances against varied defensive looks garnered praise, even within critiques about roster health and inconsistency. Marshall’s contributions were also noted as a stabilizing presence on a night with limited options.

League observers fixated on the Wembanyama-Flagg dynamic, framing it as an emerging intergenerational measuring point. Social discussion emphasized both the present-day contrast between the teams and the long-term intrigue surrounding Dallas’ young core. The reactions reflected how a competitive game can bridge immediate narratives with broader future implications.

Conclusion

San Antonio’s 135–123 victory showcased a blend of efficiency, timing, and composure that steadied the game whenever Dallas threatened to shift control. The Spurs built their early advantage through structured offense and perimeter accuracy, maintained it through balanced production, and restored it with poised closing sequences after the Mavericks’ rally. Wembanyama’s versatility set the tone, Fox’s shot-making provided late separation, and Castle’s all-around impact rounded out a performance defined by layers rather than singular dominance.

Dallas’ surge in the third quarter made the matchup compelling, particularly with Flagg’s continued rise and Marshall’s determined scoring. Yet the burden of limited personnel and the absence of key rotational anchors influenced the Mavericks’ ability to sustain the run into the final period. San Antonio ultimately won through the steadiness of its structure and the range of contributors prepared to answer when the game tightened.

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