Doncic's Mavs 'Fighting' for 6th Seed Amid Matchup Against Wemby's Spurs
The Dallas Mavericks are still riding the high of a wave of momentum of Kyrie Irving's epic game-wining, left-handed floater in a 107-105 victory over the reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets. On Tuesday, they will face the San Antonio Spurs in a pivotal matchup with significant implications for the Western Conference standings.
Doncic led the Mavericks with 37 points in their win over the Nuggets, and Irving, with 24 points, has been instrumental in Dallas's surge up the standings despite the absence of forward Josh Green due to an ankle injury.
“I think it’s a really big win. You know going against the Nuggets, they were champions last year," Mavs superstar Luka Doncic said. "They have an amazing team, they have the MVP, it’s tough to play against them. So, it’s really good for us.”
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The Mavs are eyeing a direct playoff berth, standing in a tight race with the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns for the sixth spot in the Western Conference. Dallas enters Tuesday's action, trailing the Kings by a half-game.
"We're kind of fighting for the sixth spot — it's on your mind," Irving said. "And as a competitor, you want to play well. I feel like we answered that call the majority of the game (against Denver). We made some mistakes, which is going to happen, but we were very resilient.
The Mavs will be the latest team to take on the challenge of facing Victor Wembanyama's standout performance, featuring 33 points, 15 rebounds, and seven blocks against the Brooklyn Nets. As the rest of the NBA world knows, Wembanyama acknowledges he's just scratching the surface.
"It's a day-by-day thing, but what's for sure is I'm not even close to being at my best," Wembanyama said. "I don't see my progression stopping anytime soon. So it's good for confidence, and it's a lot to correct. A lot to adjust."
Despite being at the bottom of the Western Conference, the Spurs enter the contest with renewed confidence after an overtime victory against Brooklyn. San Antonio has been improved lately with a 4-6 record in their previous 10 games, including defeats over the Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, and Indiana Pacers.
The Mavs have comfortably handled the Spurs this season, winning the last two games by 24.0 points per game. Doncic averaged 33.0 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 9.3 assists in three games against the Spurs this season. Irving was a standout, too, averaging 28.0 points, 6.5 assists, and 5.5 rebounds in his two games against San Antonio.
P.J. Washington and the Mavs' frontcourt effectively guarded Wembanyama, who has averaged 22.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 4.6 blocks since the All-Star break, including a 35% success rate from three-point range.
San Antonio remains limited schematically on defense, often deploying Wembanyama in drop coverage in screening actions. Irving punished the Spurs frequently in these situations since they were unable to load up on both Doncic and him throughout their matchup. Additionally, attacking the offensive boards with Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II will be important factors against Wembanyama's length.
As the Mavs and Spurs prepare for their final regular-season meeting, the stakes are high for Dallas in its journey to avoid the play-in tournament and secure a direct playoff spot. This Lone Star State rivalry promises to deliver intense action and critical playoff implications.
