‘Cut Down On Our Turnovers’: Morez Johnson Jr. Points To Ball Security As Dallas Mavericks Face Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs Again

SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs forced 21 turnovers in their 122-106 win over the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on Oct. 24. Before Wednesday night’s rematch at Frost Bank Center, Mavericks rookie Morez Johnson Jr. said after shootaround that ball security was the biggest takeaway from that game.

Dallas played that night without Cooper Flagg, who had a mild left shoulder sprain from a win at Indiana the night before, and Kyrie Irving, who sat out the second night of the back-to-back for left knee injury management.

San Antonio scored 26 points off those turnovers. Johnson said a lot of those points came on dunks in transition.

“Ball security. We turned it over too many [times],” Johnson said. “We gave them a lot of fast-break dunks from our turnovers. So if we cut down on our turnovers, I feel like we would have been in that game without having Kyrie.”

“I don’t think Coop … did Coop play? Coop didn’t play,” Johnson continued. “So we got those guys back on the floor.”

Johnson had 6 points, 2 assists, and 4 turnovers in the first meeting. He said the turnovers were a little bit of both, some on Dallas and some forced by San Antonio’s defense.

“They’re very aggressive. They play very hard. They’re always in the gaps,” Johnson explained. “We just talked about how we had so many turnovers. They forced a few turnovers on myself and some of my other teammates. So I think we just got to focus on ball security and we’ll be fine tonight.”

San Antonio enters at 5-2 and has won five straight, starting with the Oct. 24 win in Dallas. Dylan Harper scored 22 points for the Spurs in that game. San Antonio beat the Utah Jazz 119-97 at home Monday.

Morez Johnson Jr. Plans For Victor Wembanyama After Career Night

Johnson scored a career-high 13 points without missing a shot in Monday’s 115-100 home loss to the Sacramento Kings. He went 5-of-5 from the field and 3-of-6 at the free-throw line in 17 minutes, 3 seconds, and he added 2 offensive rebounds, an assist, and a steal. Before that, he was averaging 6.3 points on 53.3% shooting in 15.5 minutes across six games. Seeing the ball go through the hole was good for Johnson.

“Just trying to get my legs up underneath me, pretty much,” Johnson said. “I was dealing with my shin issues, so coming back from that, just finding some rhythm from sitting out.”

Mavericks coach Dusty May said Sept. 28 that Johnson had limited time in practice through the first three days of training camp. Dallas listed Johnson as questionable with a shin injury before the Oct. 24 game against San Antonio, then upgraded him to probable.

Victor Wembanyama had 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 blocks for San Antonio in that game. He is averaging 25.7 points and 10.7 rebounds this season, and his 4.0 blocks per game lead the NBA. Johnson said the Spurs center covers so much ground on the court.

“Just make sure I be physical, play hard,” Johnson said. “Got to do my work early. He covers so much ground on the court, so I got to make sure I do my work early.”

Johnson On Kyrie Irving, Dusty May, And Santi Aldama

Irving is off the injury report after sitting out Monday for left knee injury management. Through five games, he is averaging 21.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in 28.6 minutes. He scored 35 points in Dallas’ 116-111 win over the Houston Rockets on Oct. 30, his fifth game since tearing the ACL in his left knee on March 3, 2025.

Flagg is not on the report either. Max Christie is out with right hip soreness and tightness after leaving Monday’s game in the second quarter.

Dallas’ roll men scored 17 points on 10 pick-and-roll possessions against Sacramento, according to play-type tracking data reviewed by Dallas Sports Journal. Johnson has gotten more comfortable on offense playing in the pocket, on the perimeter, and as a connector.

“I feel like we do the same things when they’re not out there, but I feel like they draw so much attention,” Johnson said. “Every time we set a ball [screen] for Kyrie, they always put two on the ball.”

“So now we got an advantage from that when he hits the pocket or advances it to the other side,” Johnson continued. “We got an advantage right there just from his attention when he got the ball.”

May coached Johnson at Michigan in 2025-26, when Johnson started all 40 games, averaged 13.1 points and 7.3 rebounds, and won a national championship. Johnson spent his freshman season at Illinois before transferring. May agreed to become the Mavericks’ coach on June 22, a day before Dallas drafted Johnson ninth overall. May is the same guy he was at Michigan, Johnson said.

“It’s been great transitioning with him to the NBA level. We’re both figuring it out together,” Johnson said. “I think we have great vets on the team that’s giving both of us some grace. I’m able to talk to all my vets about anything and they’re very helpful.”

Dallas downgraded Santi Aldama to doubtful for Wednesday’s game after listing him as questionable Tuesday. He has not played since Feb. 4, when he was still with the Memphis Grizzlies. The arthroscopic procedure on his right knee came March 17.

Over 43 games with Memphis last season, Aldama averaged career highs of 14.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists. Dallas acquired him in a six-team trade on July 8, and on Oct. 27 the Mavericks assigned him to the Texas Legends to practice as part of his return-to-play protocol before recalling him the same day. Aldama has good touch around the rim and is a very good passer, Johnson said.

“Scouting report I’d give, I’d say stretch four, stretch five, plays very hard,” Johnson said. “Got good touch around the rim, very good passer, shoots the piss out of the ball. Yeah, that’s a good one.”

Tip-off at Frost Bank Center is set for 8:30 p.m. CT on ESPN. Dallas returns home Friday to host Utah at 7 p.m. CT in its second NBA Cup group-play game.