The Dallas Mavericks are reeling a bit, coming off a 115-100 smackdown from the bottom-dwelling Sacramento Kings, and if they thought a trip to San Antonio was gonna be an easy fix, they’re dead wrong. The Spurs, who started the 2026-27 season with back-to-back losses, have absolutely found their stride, ripping off five straight wins. And you know who’s behind it? That all-universe life form, Victor Wembanyama, who’s been on an absolute tear, dropping 36 and 43 points in back-to-back games last week. Seriously, this dude only played 24 minutes in their 119-97 win over the Utah Jazz on Monday, which means he’s been chilling, resting up, and planning how to torch the Mavs for basically 48 hours straight. Dallas is walking into a buzzsaw Wednesday night.
San Antonio’s Unstoppable Streak
This isn’t the same Spurs team the Mavs might have been hoping for after a tough loss. San Antonio went from a stumbling 0-2 start to a red-hot 5-2, and Wembanyama is the reason. He’s not just scoring, he’s doing it efficiently and with ease, like a cheat code active in real life. That 43-point outburst last week? That wasn’t a fluke. The guy is dialed in. And now, he’s had extra rest after barely breaking a sweat against the Jazz. You think he’s not itching to put on a show against a rival? The Spurs host the Mavs at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, and it’s looking like a nightmare scenario for Dallas.
Last Time Out: A Different Mavericks Team
We’re barely ten days removed from the first time these two tangled, and San Antonio absolutely suffocated Dallas, winning 122-106. But let’s be real, the Mavs were severely shorthanded. Second-year superstar Cooper Flagg was out with a shoulder injury, and Kyrie Irving was sitting out due to “injury management” on the second night of a back-to-back. With those two missing, a young Spaniard named Sergio de Larrea, in just his third-ever NBA game, stepped up and legitimately turned heads with 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting, including three triples. The undermanned Mavericks kept it close for three quarters, but Wembanyama (game-high 23 points) and Dylan Harper (22 points) sealed the deal for the Spurs late.
Flagg and Irving Are Back, But Can They Stop Wemby?
The good news for Dallas? This time, it’s a whole different ballgame. Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving are fully operational and ready to roll for this marquee matchup. Irving was finally taken off the injury report after sitting out the Kings game. The last time Flagg and Irving played together, they combined for a staggering 68 points in a surprise 116-111 win over the Houston Rockets last week. That’s a huge boost.
But here’s the kicker: they’ve still gotta contain Wembanyama. There’s nothing figurative about the tall hurdle the Mavs have to overcome if they want to get an ever-elusive win in San Antonio. In their first meeting, Wemby put up 23 points, grabbed seven boards, and swatted away four shots. That’s a pretty good roadblock, right? The matchup of Wemby vs. Gaff is going to be everything, and if Dallas wants to leave the Frost Bank Center with a win, they have to figure out how to slow down the biggest force in the league. Dallas needs to show up, because Wembanyama is ready to run riot.
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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