NBA: Victor Wembanyama, Spurs stuff Cooper Flagg, Mavs

Victor Wembanyama dominated with 29 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, and three blocked shots to carry the visiting San Antonio Spurs past the Dallas Mavericks, 135-123, on Thursday night.

Mavericks star Cooper Flagg scored 32 points, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to record 30 or more points in four consecutive games. Flagg joined Michael Jordan as the first rookie to post at least 30 points and five rebounds in four straight games.

The Spurs led by 11 at halftime, but Dallas trimmed the margin to 96-93 heading into the fourth quarter. Naji Marshall’s jumper with 4:09 remaining cut the deficit to one, but Stephon Castle responded with a long 3-pointer on San Antonio’s next possession.

Wembanyama added two free throws, and Flagg answered with a floater at 2:41. A critical block by Wembanyama on Daniel Gafford’s layup attempt, followed by two free throws from Harrison Barnes, helped the Spurs secure the win.

San Antonio’s supporting cast shined as well. Barnes scored 19 points, Keldon Johnson added 18, De’Aaron Fox had 17, Julian Champagnie contributed 14, while Castle and Devin Vassell tallied 12 each. The victory marked the Spurs’ third straight win.

For Dallas, Marshall scored a season-high 32 points, Max Christie added 20, and Gafford finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds. The Mavericks have now dropped six consecutive games.

Wembanyama started strong, scoring San Antonio’s first 10 points and totaling 20 by halftime. He hit his first three 3-point attempts, helping the Spurs take an early 12-7 lead. San Antonio led by nine points at one stretch and finished the first quarter with a 38-35 edge.

Dallas briefly regained the lead at 48-44 after Flagg’s jumper early in the second quarter. The Spurs responded with a 21-4 run, capped by Johnson’s layup with 4:05 remaining, eventually taking a 74-63 lead into halftime. Both Wembanyama and Marshall had 20 points in the first half, while Johnson added 12 and Champagnie 11 for San Antonio. Flagg and Gafford contributed 10 points each for Dallas.

Other rookies who have scored 30 or more points in four consecutive games include Jordan, Bernard King, Allen Iverson, and Jalen Green. Iverson is the last rookie to score over 150 points across four games.

–Field Level Media/Reuters