Mavs Game Observations: Game 13 vs Spurs

A small step forward, with hopes for bigger strides next

Photo by Richard Rodriguez / Getty Images

The Mavericks finally caught a break. After losing four straight, they defeated the depleted and undersized San Antonio Spurs 110-93 at home. Victor Wembanyama and Devin Vassell, the Spurs’ two best players and top scorers, missed the game, with San Antonio also playing on the second night of a back-to-back. But beggars can’t be choosers—especially after the Mavericks let a similar opportunity slip in Utah. Seeing them step up and finish the job early is a small win, and at this point, we’ll take it.

There’s only so much to take from a win against an undermanned opponent, which is why this recap will focus more on the Mavericks’ efforts to find and re-establish their defensive identity than on the game itself.

The real test for the Mavericks comes tonight in Oklahoma, facing the best team in the conference on a short turnaround and the second night of a back-to-back. I chose the game against the Thunder as our Game of the Week for obvious reasons, and you’ll receive the preview in your inbox later today.

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Today’s notes:

1. Defensive mindset: a focused start

2. Healthy rotation = more options = more size = more defense

3. Rim protector and rim bender

4. Turnover issues persist

5. Quentin Grimes and Naji Marshall attacking the gaps (🎞️VIDEO)

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1 - Defensive mindset: a focused start

Without Wembanyama and Vassell, the Spurs were missing their two highest-usage players and primary on-ball scoring options and creators. Regardless, it was encouraging to see the Mavericks start the game with a defensive mindset. Luka Dončić, who faced heavy criticism for his lack of focus in Utah, responded by setting the tone with two steals in the opening three minutes. Others followed suit, with the Mavericks finishing the night with 16 stocks (9 steals and 7 blocks).

By allowing just 97.7 points per 100 possessions, the Mavericks delivered one of their best defensive performances of the season—a welcome sight after four poor showings in their previous games.

However, we’ve seen the Mavericks do this before: beat undermanned teams that lack the talent to break down their perimeter defense, punishing them with ball movement and shooting. Except for the Minnesota win, all of the Mavericks’ victories have come against such teams when their defense has clamped down (Spurs twice, Jazz, Paolo-less Magic, and LaVine-less Bulls), while they’ve struggled defensively against stronger offensive teams (Suns twice, Pacers, Nuggets, Warriors).

2-Healthy rotation = more options = more size = more defense

After Dereck Lively II and Maxi Kleber returned to the rotation in previous games, P.J. Washington was the last missing piece (excluding Dante Exum) to make his return last night.

With more options, we saw Jason Kidd revert to last year’s template of prioritizing size and a more defensive-minded rotation. Kleber started alongside Lively once again, while Washington, Gafford, Marshall, and Grimes were the four primary subs off the bench. With Washington and Kleber back, Powell and Dinwiddie fell out of the rotation. Grimes’ minutes continue to increase, while Thompson’s have decreased. The latter is probably the most intriguing trend, and we’ll see if it persists against strong defensive teams like OKC, where more shooting will be needed.

We saw some interesting defensive-minded lineups with the reshuffled rotation last night: Irving alongside Grimes, Marshall, Washington, and Gafford, as well as Dončić and Irving with Grimes, Washington, and Gafford. These were two interesting lineups we saw in the middle of the game when the Mavericks got stops, made their run, and put the game out of reach.

3 - Rim protector and rim bender

I mentioned how the Mavericks’ defense tends to dominate weaker teams, and the Lively-Gafford duo overwhelming smaller, less athletic frontcourts is a big part of that. Without the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama, the Spurs’ big man rotation—featuring Zach Collins, Charles Bassey, and Sandro Mamukelashvili—was no match for the Mavericks’ bigs.

Lively (4 blocks) and Gafford (3 blocks) eviscerated most of the Spurs’ attempts to create anything in the paint. San Antonio managed to shoot just 14-of-31, or 39 percent, in that area. Gafford did even more damage on the offensive end, scoring 22 points on 9-of-10 shooting and posterizing Collins in the process.

As with the defense, this was encouraging to see, but the next step for the Mavericks’ centers is to dominate against better teams. That opportunity could come as soon as tonight, against one of the smallest rotations (missing Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein) but also one of the most aggressive and agile.

4-Turnover issues persist