Klay Thompson shines in Mavs debut
Luka Doncic recorded 28 points and 10 rebounds, while Klay Thompson contributed 22 points in his debut for Dallas, leading the Mavericks to a 120-109 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in the season opener for both teams on Thursday night.
Kyrie Irving added 15 points for the defending Western Conference champions, with Doncic also providing eight assists and Thompson securing seven rebounds.
Victor Wembanyama, beginning his second year with the Spurs, struggled with his shooting, finishing with 17 points on 5 of 18 from the field. Jeremy Sochan and Julian Champagnie each scored 18 points.
For the Spurs, while Thompson's debut with the Mavericks garnered attention, Chris Paul's first game with San Antonio marked a significant moment as he commenced his 20th season. This is particularly important for a young team aiming to break a five-season playoff drought.
The Spurs' offense appeared disjointed, with Paul managing only a three-pointer in the third quarter. However, his long-term contributions were evident through his eight assists and seven rebounds.
The Mavericks have emphasized defense alongside their star offensive trio of Doncic, Irving, and Thompson. A brief defensive showcase occurred in the third quarter, highlighted by three consecutive turnovers from San Antonio, with Thompson recording the first steal and Irving following up with two more. Despite this, Dallas could only convert two points from the turnovers.
The Mavericks established their largest lead at 69-55 in the third quarter, when Doncic, amidst heavy traffic, executed a blind pass over his head to P.J. Washington Jr., who was open for a three-pointer.
In the second half, Dallas significantly improved their long-range shooting, finishing 13 of 21 from beyond the arc after struggling with a 6 of 23 performance in the first half.
The Spurs will host the Houston Rockets on Saturday for the first of two consecutive home games, while the Mavericks will play their road opener against the Phoenix Suns on the same day.
This report updates a previous version to clarify that Dallas achieved a 13 of 21 shooting performance from three-point range in the second half, rather than 13 of 18.
SportsLigue