The San Antonio Spurs visit the Dallas Mavericks tonight with both teams looking to bounce back early in the NBA season. The Spurs enter the game winless at 0-2, sitting 13th in the Western Conference, while the Mavericks hold a 1-1 record and ninth place.
Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. EDT in Dallas. The Spurs are favored by 12.5 points, with a total points over/under set at 231.5.
Last season, the Mavericks struggled, finishing 26-56 overall and 4-12 in the Southwest Division. They averaged 114.1 points per game, including 19.5 points on free throws and 33 points from three-point range. Dallas will be looking to sharpen their offense and improve on their start to this year’s campaign.
San Antonio posted a far stronger record last season, going 62-20 overall and 13-3 in the Southwest Division. They excelled on the road, winning 30 of 42 games away from home. Defensively, the Spurs generated 17.1 points off turnovers and added 15.5 second-chance points per game. Their bench contributed 41.8 points on average, a significant factor in their success.
Injuries remain a concern for both sides. The Mavericks have multiple players listed as day-to-day, including Cooper Flagg (shoulder), Tarik Biberovic (heel), Caleb Martin (thumb), Jett Howard (calf), Dereck Lively II (foot), and Santi Aldama (knee). The Spurs are without Jayden Quaintance due to a knee injury, while Tobias Harris is day-to-day with a calf issue.
The Spurs’ early-season losses have left questions about how quickly they can re-establish themselves as contenders in the Western Conference. Dallas, meanwhile, aims to build momentum and climb the standings after a disappointing previous year.
The matchup tonight will test Dallas’s perimeter shooting against San Antonio’s ability to capitalize on turnovers and bench depth. With the Mavericks at home, they will seek to defend their court and keep their record positive.
The game will offer a clearer picture of both teams’ form heading into the heart of the season, with the Spurs trying to avoid a 0-3 start and the Mavericks hoping to improve to 2-1.
According to Yahoo Sports.
