Mavericks Fall 112-111 to Spurs as Wembanyama Erupts for 52 Points

Q: What hidden roster flaw almost cost the Spurs a victory despite Victor Wembanyama’s legendary 52-point masterpiece?

The flaw was San Antonio’s non-Wembanyama minutes — especially the shaky backup-center/bench unit led by Luke Kornet. The clearest evidence came in the game itself: the Spurs were plus-23 with Wembanyama on the floor and minus-22 when he sat. That enormous swing shows San Antonio still has a major structural problem surviving the minutes without its star, even on a night when he posted 52 points, 24 rebounds and eight blocks. The additional reporting points to the same issue. The Spurs’ second unit has struggled on both ends, with Kornet drawing scrutiny as the primary backup center. When he has played this season, San Antonio’s offense has cratered, and the defense without Wembanyama has been described as “horrendous,” with a dramatic drop-off in rim protection, rebounding and overall efficiency. Kornet’s own early numbers have been poor, including a team-worst plus-minus stretch and turnover issues, while the bench lineups around him have also been badly outscored. So the “hidden” flaw was not anything Wembanyama did; it was the roster’s lack of reliable frontcourt depth and the bench’s inability to hold up when he rests. That is why, despite one of the most dominant individual games in NBA history, the Spurs still nearly let Dallas steal the game in the final seconds.

3 articles · Updated · Mavs Moneyball · Nov 5

Dallas erased a 17-point halftime deficit and tied the game at 111 on Naji Marshall’s 3-pointer with 1:41 left, but lost 112-111 after a final possession ended in Kyrie Irving’s contested fadeaway.
Victor Wembanyama drove the result with a career-high 52 points, 24 rebounds and eight blocks, overwhelming Dallas early and reaching 29 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks by halftime.
Kyrie Irving scored 29 points, Marshall added 22 off the bench, and Cooper Flagg recovered from a 1-of-11 first half to finish with 19 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.
San Antonio improved to 6-2 while Dallas fell to 4-4, with the game underscoring both the Mavericks’ second-half resilience and how completely Wembanyama can reshape an opponent’s offense.