The San Antonio Spurs commenced the 2023-24 season with a home game against the Dallas Mavericks, but the outcome was not in their favor as they fell short with a score of 126-119.
The spotlight shone on the dynamic duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, who led the Mavericks to victory with 33 and 22 points, respectively.
While the Spurs had their own standout performances, including Devin Vassell’s 23 points and Keldon Johnson’s 17 points, the much-anticipated No. 1 draft pick, Victor Wembanyama, also made his debut.
Wembanyama showcased his potential with 15 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals in 23 minutes of play, despite leading the team with 5 turnovers. Notably, he played the fewest minutes among the Spurs’ starters due to foul trouble.
In the post-game press conference, Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich discussed the game’s outcome, emphasizing the impressive performance of Doncic and Irving.
“The two future hall of famers got us,” he said, per Brad Townsend. “They took over the game, but that doesn’t really bother me that much.
“The 12 turnovers in the second half, where we lost composure offensively, unforced turnovers, quick decisions, quick shots where we didn’t really make them guard.”
