In a tightly contested matchup, Kyrie Irving’s 28-point performance propelled the Dallas Mavericks (40-29) to a 113-107 win over the San Antonio Spurs (15-54) on Tuesday night, despite a subdued showing from Luka Doncic.
Despite Doncic’s shooting struggles, going 6 of 27 from the field, the Mavericks relied on his playmaking abilities as he recorded his eighth triple-double in 10 games, contributing 18 points, 16 assists, and 10 rebounds.
Dallas guard Dante Exum also played a pivotal role, contributing 16 points, including eight in the decisive fourth quarter.
The victory holds significant playoff implications for Dallas (.580), as they continue to vie for a spot in the Western Conference playoffs, trailing the Sacramento Kings (.582) by percentage points for the sixth seed.
San Antonio put up a valiant effort, with Tre Jones scoring 22 points and Devin Vassell adding 19, but ultimately fell short against a determined Mavericks squad.
Spurs rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama struggled with his shot (3/13 field goals), but still recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. He also blocked six shots.
