Victor Wembanyama had career highs of 52 points and 24 rebounds along with eight blocks as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Dallas Mavericks 112-111 on Wednesday night at Frost Bank Center.
The Spurs (6-2) won their sixth straight game. Dallas fell to 4-4.
Wembanyama shot 16 of 28 from the field and 19 of 23 at the free-throw line in 34 minutes. Nine of his rebounds came on the offensive glass.
He had 29 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks in the first half. He became the first player since the NBA’s play-by-play era began in 1996-97 with at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks in a half.
He scored 10 of San Antonio’s first 12 points on two dunks and six free throws. He had 15 points, nine rebounds and two blocks after the first quarter.
Dallas went on a 12-1 run after he sat three minutes into the second quarter, cutting the lead to 49-48. He returned 4 1/2 minutes later, and the Spurs led 68-51 at halftime.
Wembanyama blocked three shots in 13 seconds on one possession, rejecting Cooper Flagg and P.J. Washington before De’Aaron Fox caught the third with 3:38 left in the half.
San Antonio was plus-23 with Wembanyama on the floor and minus-22 without him.
Dallas outscored San Antonio 60-44 in the second half. Wembanyama had two putbacks in the final 2:39 but went 1 for 4 at the line in the final 2:10.
Kyrie Irving, who scored 29, missed a contested 15-foot turnaround jumper with three seconds left.
Naji Marshall scored 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting off the bench. Washington had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Flagg added 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Dylan Harper scored 21 points for the Spurs, and Stephon Castle had 17 points and 10 rebounds. San Antonio went 5 of 36 from 3-point range but outrebounded Dallas 61-50.
San Antonio visits the Sacramento Kings on Friday at 10 p.m. ET. Dallas hosts the Utah Jazz on Friday at 8 p.m. ET. Both are NBA Cup games.
