Dallas has been forced to change its skin. The trade of Anthony Davis to the Wizards has left the helm in the hands of Cooper Flagg, a 19-year-old rookie with precocious talent and veteran responsibilities. A franchise that until recently prided itself on stability in the West now lives in turmoil: the departure of Luka Doncic, the firing of Nico Harrison and a constantly adjusting locker room. The kid is growing up fast. And his first serious test after the trade deadline was to host Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs in a Texas derby that is usually full of electricity. The Frenchman appeared like an angry bull, impossible to hold back. Flagg and his team tried. It was not enough.
The score was clear: 123-135 to San Antonio, a team that this season plays with the feeling of having found something great. Perhaps for a long time. Seven of the ten men who took to the court finished in double figures. Harrison Barnes scored 19 points, Stephon Castle had 18. But the game had an owner.
Wembanyama put on his work clothes and did it all. Five three-pointers from nine attempts, nine from 14 from the field, six from eight from the line. He scored 29 points, 11 rebounds for the double-double, six assists and three blocks in 34 minutes. Constant presence. Continuous impact. He commanded every corner.
Dallas came out of the locker room determined to die with their boots on. At halftime they were eleven down and cut it with a 13-3 run that shook the arena. The Mavs came close, fought back, but failed to complete the comeback. It was their sixth straight loss and already fourteen at home, a heavy burden for a fan base that is beginning to feel the vertigo of change.
San Antonio had to balance two threats. The first was Flagg. The rookie responded as if he had been doing this for years: 32 points in 39 minutes. The second was Naji Marshall, who had been warned by Jason Kidd that he could be traded and celebrated his continuity with a great game of the same caliber. They shone, but the overall result fell on the visitors’ side.
The third quarter brought Dallas closer together. At the start of the final period they came within a point on two occasions, both with baskets by Flagg. The rookie surpassed thirty points for the fourth consecutive time, the youngest player to do so. In their first year Michael Jordan, Bernard King, Allen Iverson and Jalen Green also did it, but none at 19.
The balance was finally tipped by a Castle three-pointer five minutes from time. From there, the Spurs held their lead with cold blood and free throws. Three wins in a row, seven in their last ten games and another derby just around the corner, on Saturday night into Sunday morning. San Antonio looks up, three off the overall league lead, with Oklahoma City still five wins ahead.The next blow in Texas is already scheduled.
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