‘Every Possession Is A Challenge’: Dusty May Details San Antonio Spurs’ Defense Before Dallas Mavericks Rematch
SAN ANTONIO — Before the Dallas Mavericks played the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night at Frost Bank Center, Mavericks coach Dusty May said the Spurs run a scheme on both ends that is different from most of the league.
San Antonio (5-2) has won five straight, including a 119-97 home win over the Utah Jazz on Monday. The Spurs reached the 2026 NBA Finals and lost to the New York Knicks in five games.
Dallas cannot run what it normally runs against them, in May’s view. The Mavericks have to counter what San Antonio does.
“I think they have a really unique scheme on both sides of the ball that play to their personnel well,” May said. “They’ve evolved and developed this thing that’s different than a lot of teams. And so they challenge, you can’t come in and just do what you normally do. You have to be able to counter what they do.”
Victor Wembanyama And The San Antonio Spurs’ Guard Group
Through seven games, Victor Wembanyama is putting up 25.7 points and 10.7 rebounds a night. His 4.0 blocks per game lead the league. On Oct. 31, he scored 43 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The NBA named him the Western Conference Player of the Week on Monday. De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, and Devin Vassell start alongside him.
That group combined for 71 points, 25 assists, and 10 steals in the first meeting on Oct. 24. Fox had 19 points and 9 assists, Castle had 19 points and 8 assists, Harper scored 22, and Vassell added 11 points and 6 assists. Wembanyama finished with 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 blocks in 28:55.
“I’m most impressed with their defensive intensity and how connected they are on that side of the ball,” May explained. “Obviously, they’re extremely potent offensively and they’ve got a lot of answers. But defensively, every possession is a challenge. They push off your spots. They fight for every pass. It’s tough. And so the tenacity they play with, the amount of guard depth and size and length, and you factor that in with shot making, they’re a tough cover, obviously.”
Off the bench, Julian Champagnie scored 12 points with 3 blocks. San Antonio is without Tobias Harris (calf) and rookie Jayden Quaintance (knee) on Wednesday.
First Meeting Came Without Cooper Flagg And Kyrie Irving
Dallas played the Oct. 24 game at American Airlines Center without Cooper Flagg, who had a left shoulder sprain, and Kyrie Irving, who rested his left knee on the second night of a back-to-back. San Antonio led 68-60 at halftime and won 122-106.
Rookie Sergio De Larrea scored 21 points off the bench for Dallas, and Marcus Sasser, P.J. Washington, and Daniel Gafford added 12 apiece. The Mavericks shot 51.1% from the field but turned it over 21 times and gave up 15 offensive rebounds.
Dallas held an 85-84 lead in the third quarter and went to the fourth down 92-89. The Spurs won the last 12 minutes 30-17.
“There’s so many challenges every game. It was just managing, just trying to hang around,” May said. “And we got it, I think we tied it with two minutes to go in the third. And their explosiveness, their spurtability was ultimately the difference.”
“But we didn’t make enough of the hustle plays to neutralize when they did start making some shots,” May continued. “And they played well, and we do feel like we made them earn it.”
Flagg, the first overall pick in 2025 and the 2025-26 Rookie of the Year, faces San Antonio for the first time this season. Irving is off the injury report after resting Monday. De Larrea is out with a right knee sprain.
Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. CT on ESPN. The Mavericks (4-3) host Utah on Friday.
