Wemby Went Nuclear and Kyrie's Last Shot Missed: Spurs Escape 112-111, and the Mavs Host Utah Friday

By Marcus Delaney, RF Sports Radio Mavericks voice

Mavs Nation, you almost spoiled a historic night. Almost. Victor Wembanyama put up a line you will be talking about for years, and Kyrie Irving's last look rattled out. San Antonio 112, Dallas 111.

The facts

The Spurs held off the Mavericks 112-111 on Wednesday night at Frost Bank Center, per NBA.com and the Associated Press. Wembanyama finished with career highs of 52 points and 24 rebounds plus eight blocks. He is the first player with at least 50 points, 20 rebounds and five blocks in a game since Bob McAdoo in 1974, per NBA.com. In the first half alone he had 29 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks, the first such half in the play-by-play era that began in 1996-97.

Kyrie Irving scored 29 points and missed a contested 15-foot turnaround jumper with three seconds left, per the AP. Naji Marshall had 22, P.J. Washington 21 and Cooper Flagg 19 for Dallas. Dylan Harper scored 21 and Stephon Castle had 17 points and 10 rebounds for San Antonio. The Spurs were plus-23 with Wembanyama on the floor and minus-22 when he sat, per the AP. San Antonio has won six straight. Dallas falls to 4-4; the Spurs are 6-2.

Wembanyama was playing through a virus, rolled his ankle in the fourth after stepping on Walter Clayton Jr.'s foot, left briefly, then returned and finished with two putbacks in the final 2:39, per NBA.com. "I can still do more," he said afterward. Irving said of Wembanyama, "He was making an impact for his team. You can see his aggression has been raising over the past few games."

Dallas has no game Thursday. Next up is the Utah Jazz on Friday at American Airlines Center in NBA Cup group play, per NBA.com/Mavs and NBC 5.

RF Sports Radio's take (opinion)

My take: you tip your cap to Wembanyama, then you ask why Dallas was minus-23 when he played. That is not only talent. That is effort, rebounding and help defense.

Flagg's 19 was fine. Marshall and Washington kept them alive. But when the best player in the building is putting up 52 and 24, you cannot lose the glass and hope a late jumper saves you. The Mavs got the shot they wanted at the end. It did not fall. Live with that. Do not live with the stretches where San Antonio dunked at will.

Friday against Utah is the reset. No more I-35 excuses. Get stops, protect the ball, and make the Jazz play your pace.

What to watch next

Watch Friday's tip time and injury report for the Jazz game, and whether Dallas can win the rebounding battle at home. For the Spurs preview, read our Nov. 4 Spurs preview, and follow every game on our Dallas Mavericks page.

Radio question: after watching Wembanyama's 52-24-8, what is the one thing the Mavs must fix before Utah arrives Friday?

Sources: NBA.com - Wembanyama sets career highs as Spurs top Mavs for 6th straight; AP News - Wembanyama has career highs of 52 points, 24 rebounds as Spurs hold off Mavericks 112-111; ESPN - Spurs 112-111 Mavericks final; NBC 5 - Mavericks host Jazz Friday for NBA Cup group stage.