The Dallas Mavericks lost their season opener in embarrassing fashion, falling to the San Antonio Spurs, 125-92. Victor Wembanyama exploded into the 2025-26 season with 40 points and 15 rebounds. Anthony Davis led a pathetic effort from Dallas, scoring 22 in defeat.

The Mavericks played aggressively early, jumping out to a 6-2 lead on the Spurs. Unfortunately, PJ Washington was a bit too aggressive and picked up two early fouls. San Antonio rallied back with a 12-2 run, jump-started by Wembanyama at both ends. After a jumbo lineup to start the game, head coach Jason Kidd went to Anthony Davis at center with Andrew Nembhard and D’Angelo Russell handling guard duties. Dallas retook the lead on four straight free throws, following a flagrant foul of Davis and a shooting foul of Russell. The Mavericks maintained the lead down the stretch of the quarter, but Kidd played with fire after center Dereck Lively picked up his second foul setting a screen. The next possession, Lively picked up his third foul trying to keep Wembanyama out of the paint. Dallas ended the frame up 29-28.

PJ Washington’s return from early foul trouble lifted the Mavericks to start the second, sinking a long two and a corner three to give the Mavericks some breathing room. The hurricane that is Wembanyama had some answers for Dallas, yet due to ineffective Spurs scoring outside of the starting lineup, San Antonio was not able to pull away from Dallas in a significant way. Late in the quarter, Wembanyama went to work on Dallas, drawing repeated fouls on post-ups and up fakes. The latter move resulted in Davis getting his fourth foul of the game, putting Dallas in the danger zone. The Spurs built up a 10-point lead before Klay Thompson’s first three of the season pulled the lead back into single digits. Dallas entered the half down 60-51.

The second half opened with the Spurs trying to blow the doors off the Mavericks. Offense was hard to come by, outside of transition and isolation plays and Wembanyama continued to punish Dallas. Lively, in particular, continued his reckless play, picking up his fourth and fifth fouls in the first five minutes. A double-digit run resulted in Dallas being down by 20-plus points and no clear way out of it. Despite Davis hitting some threes and Flagg finally finding hit shot, the Spurs piled it on. The Mavericks entered the fourth quarter down 93-72.

It’s hard to say when the Mavericks threw in the towel, because they kept getting beat in every element of the game. Wembanyama left the game when he scored his 40th point to put the Spurs up 30. Dallas “cleared” the benches but Jaden Hardy and Brandon Williams had already seen time in the third. Just a disaster of a game for the Mavericks to start the season. The Dallas Mavericks gets annihilated by San Antonio, 125-92.

Play smarter basketball, Mavericks

This game felt like a collision of poor play and poor coaching.

Dereck Lively is the highlight example, as he picked up three fouls in the first quarter. But why was he even in to pick up his third? Kidd had a chance to sub him out and didn’t. Anthony Davis picking up his fourth foul before halftime is another key example.

What is this offense? What was the utter lack of execution by the players? This was a horrendously sloppy basketball game and there’s not a player or coach who escapes blame. I have mixed expectations for this team but I hardly expected them to play stupid basketball, and that’s what I saw far too often.

Final thing: biting on Wemby pumpfakes? Is anyone going to BLOCK the 7’7” guy at the top of his jump shot release? NO. The answer is NO. STOP BITING ON HIS PUMP FAKES.

Understanding my pumpfake point applies reguardless, it’s worth mentioning how incredible Wemby was. He attacked contact, didn’t settle, and looked smooth as can be. I have to imagine watching him hit jumpers, Mavs fans got a taste of what other fans felt like as Dirk used to hit the bump-and-fade attempts. Of course, he also attacked off the dribble like a monster and I currently have no idea what you do there other than send doubles at him. He’s so long, one dribble and he was past everyone who guarded him in man. Defensively he was just mean at times, appearing out of nowhere for blocks.

When he left the game after scoring his 40th point, Dallas had just 82. Yeesh.

Don’t worry about Cooper Flagg

If this is your first real look at Flagg, you might be concerned. Don’t be. The Mavericks’ electing to play him point now will serve him well eventually. Unfortunately, the Mavericks as a whole played horribly tonight and Flagg was infected by the disease. The Wizards should prove an easier opponent to attack, and I expect Flagg to have a much better all around game. He’s not going to score 30 every night, but he’s also not likely to be 1 of 8 from the floor at any point again this season. He’s effective and efficient.

Nembhard getting minutes is fun, but indicates a problem with the roster constrution

Ryan Nembhard should be a decent player and I may need to walk back my concerns about his size. That said, a two-way contract player getting minutes in the first half of a regular season game speaks to my long-standing concerns about guards and this roster. They can only play him 50 games. Breaking that seal in game one means Kidd realizes the problems he has on his hands with ball handling. That concerns me long term.