Wembanyama scores 52 as Spurs edge Mavericks 112-111

Victor Wembanyama scored 52 points and made the go-ahead free throw with 24.2 seconds left as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Dallas Mavericks 112-111 on Wednesday, November 4.

Wembanyama shot 16 of 28 from the field in 34 minutes. He grabbed 24 rebounds, blocked eight shots and made 19 of 23 free throws.

The Spurs (6-2) built their lead in the first half. A 12-0 run across the first and second quarters made it 37-26, and a 10-0 burst late in the second stretched it to 68-51. The margin reached 19 early in the third.

Dallas (4-4) outscored San Antonio 29-22 in the third and opened the fourth with a 10-0 run that cut the deficit to 94-92. The Mavericks took their largest lead, 103-100, midway through the quarter, and the teams were tied 103-103 with five minutes left.

The finish went basket for basket. Cooper Flagg's layup off a Walter Clayton Jr. pass made it 107-106, Wembanyama answered for 109-106, and Kyrie Irving's 10-footer cut it to 109-108. Wembanyama's tip-in made it 111-108, and Naji Marshall's 23-foot 3-pointer tied it 111-111 with 1:41 left.

Wembanyama's second free throw was the last point of the game. Dallas did not score again.

Irving led the Mavericks with 29 points on 9-of-27 shooting. Marshall scored 22 off the bench on 9-of-12 shooting, and P.J. Washington (21 points, 10 rebounds) and Flagg (19 and 10) had double-doubles. Max Christie was out with right hip soreness and tightness.

Dylan Harper scored 21 points for San Antonio, and Stephon Castle had a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

San Antonio made only 5 of 36 3-pointers and won at the free throw line and on the offensive glass. It went 33 of 39 on free throws and grabbed 22 offensive rebounds.

Up next

Mavericks: home against the Utah Jazz on Friday, November 6.

Spurs: at the Sacramento Kings on Friday, November 6.