Wembanyama's 52 and 24 sink Dallas's 59-second lead: Spurs 112-111 Mavericks

Highlights

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Fifty-nine seconds. That was the whole extent of Dallas's lead at Frost Bank Center, and the Mavericks still walked out of San Antonio on the wrong side of a 112-111 scoreline.

The Spurs owned the first half. A 32-26 opening quarter grew into a 36-25 second, the gap peaking at 19 points, the loudest stretch a run of 12 straight. San Antonio built it on muscle: 10 blocked shots to four and a steady supply of second chances.

Then Dallas pushed back. The Mavericks took the third 29-22 and the fourth 31-22, stringing together 10 points in a row, moving the ball to a 29-20 assists edge and protecting it with only eight turnovers. Kyrie Irving scored 29 with 7 rebounds and 5 assists, P.J. Washington Jr. added 21 with 10 boards, and Cooper Flagg's two put Dallas in front 107-106.

It didn't last. Victor Wembanyama answered inside for 109-106, Irving trimmed it to 109-108, Wembanyama scored again for 111-108, and Naji Marshall's three levelled it at 111-111. The last point of the night belonged to Wembanyama: a single point, and 112-111 was the scoreboard.

The line tells the night: 52 points on 57 per cent shooting, 24 rebounds, eight of the Spurs' ten blocks, a plus-23 in a little over 34 minutes. Dylan Harper added 21 on 60 per cent, Stephon Castle 17 with 10 rebounds.

Dallas passed better, handled it cleaner, and for 0:59 even led while San Antonio held the floor for 43:16. The Spurs took the boards, took the rim, and took the game by one point.