Mavericks Suffer Embarrassing Loss to Spurs in Season Opener

Dallas, Texas – The Dallas Mavericks faced a disappointing start to their 2025-26 NBA season, losing to the San Antonio Spurs 125-92 in their season opener Wednesday at the American Airlines Center.

Victor Wembanyama dominated the matchup, scoring 40 points and grabbing 15 rebounds in a standout performance. The Mavericks got off to a quick start, briefly leading 6-2, but their early aggression faltered after PJ Washington picked up two quick fouls. This allowed the Spurs to turn the game around with a commanding 12-2 run.

Head coach Jason Kidd shifted strategies by moving Anthony Davis to center and employing a smaller lineup. Despite regaining the lead late in the first quarter, foul trouble plagued the Mavericks. Center Dereck Lively found himself in foul trouble early on, which hampered Dallas’ defensive efforts.

After a hard-fought first quarter, Dallas ended leading narrowly at 29-28, but the second quarter saw the Spurs pull ahead, outscoring the Mavericks to lead 60-51 at halftime. Dallas struggled with consistency, trailing by as many as 20 points in the second half.

Despite three-pointers from Davis and newcomer Cooper Flagg, the Mavericks could not mount a comeback. The team continued to struggle with fouls, finishing with several players sidelined due to foul issues. Kidd’s rotations drew criticism as important players spent unnecessary time on the bench, leading to ineffective gameplay.

The Mavericks will need to regroup quickly, as they prepare to face the lowly Washington Wizards in their next encounter. Fans and analysts alike will be watching to see if the team can bounce back from this poor performance and rally together as they look to find their footing this season.

The greater issues at play include questions about team chemistry and execution. As Davis left the game after a disappointing performance, many anticipation surrounds Flagg’s growth in his rookie season. With the Mavericks seeking improvement, the upcoming games will be a crucial test of their resilience.