The Dallas Mavericks dropped their 2026-27 home opener 122-106 against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, a game that was supposed to mark star guard Kyrie Irving’s return to the home floor after 600 days and a first look at second-year stud Cooper Flagg. Instead, neither player suited up, leaving the Mavs fielding a bare-bones lineup in front of a disappointed, sell-out crowd at American Airlines Center.
Injury Report from Hell and the Ujiri Apology
Seriously, this felt like an unlucky night before it even tipped off. Kyrie Irving was a no-go for “injury management,” despite his recovery from a torn ACL back on March 3, 2025, being extended so he’d be 100% ready for the season. And get this: Cooper Flagg, the second-year phenom, got injured just the night before in the win against the Pacers. A hard flagrant foul by Aaron Nesmith late in the first half sidelined him for the home opener. Mavs President Masai Ujiri even went on the MavsTV broadcast in the second quarter to apologize to the fans. He said, “We apologize to the fans that they can’t see [Flagg and Irving] today. Especially with Kyrie. It’s a back-to-back, four in six days, so it’s tough. But there’s something special between those two.” You gotta feel for the guy.
Rookie Steps Up, Defense Gets Exposed
With two major pieces out, who stepped up? Rookie Sergio de Larrea, that’s who. This dude was the unlikely hero for three quarters, finishing with a team-high 21 points. He shot 9-of-15 from the field and absolutely cooked from deep, hitting 3-of-4 from three-point range. Marshall also poured in nine points in the first quarter, while PJ Washington and de Larrea each dropped six to keep things close, trailing just 39-37 after one. But even with guys like Zaccharie Risacher, Naji Marshall, and PJ Washington being called upon to rally the troops, the defensive side was just rough. The Spurs’ swingman trio of Devin Vassell, Stephon Castle, and De’Aaron Fox were practically unstoppable in the first quarter, putting up eight, nine, and ten points respectively. The Mavs were running a zone defense for most of that frame, not because it was strategic, but because it was literally “the only move on the board” with their roster as constructed. It just shows how undermanned that defensive unit really was.
The Mavs ultimately crumbled late, and that 122-106 loss hurts, especially at home. But amidst the disappointment and the injury woes, the emergence of Sergio de Larrea is a massive silver lining. It’s early season, just three games in, and it’s clear this team has fight, even when shorthanded. Fans will be buzzing about what this rookie can do once the full squad is healthy.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mavs Moneyball.
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