SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The San Antonio Spurs snapped their three-game losing streak by defeating the injury-depleted Dallas Mavericks 126-116 on Wednesday night, March 12, 2025, at Frost Bank Center. The win highlighted the excellence of De'Aaron Fox, who led the Spurs with 32 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds, marking his highest-scoring game since joining San Antonio from Sacramento earlier this month.
Despite shooting 55 percent from the field and nearly 41 percent from beyond the arc, the Mavericks were unable to turn their offensive efficiency against the Spurs' defense. Brandon Williams returned from injury to lead Dallas with 19 points, but it was not enough. The loss left the Mavericks with a record of 33-34, maintaining their tenuous hold on the tenth spot for the Western Conference play-in tournament, two and a half games clear of Phoenix.
From the start, the Mavericks showcased their determination, closing the first quarter on a 19-4 run, leaving them with a 28-20 lead. Yet their momentum would be short-lived as the Spurs' defense tightened and Fox found his rhythm. By mid-third quarter, San Antonio seized control of the game, transforming a 73-71 deficit to 82-73 with an impressive 8-0 run, bolstered by Fox’s back-to-back threes.
The Mavericks suffered from defensive lapses; they allowed the Spurs to score 66 points in the paint and posted only four offensive rebounds, which translated to just four second-chance points. The Spurs, on the other hand, had 13 offensive boards leading to 16 second-chance points. Coach Jason Kidd did not shy away from sharing his frustration at the defensive end, stating, "We were aggressive, but on the defensive end, we couldn’t stop them. It’s real simple. They attacked everybody. They just put their head down and drove it; our rim protection is limited right now, and we just have to do a bigger job, and we will."
The loss is particularly sobering for the Mavericks, who have been hit hard by injuries. The injury report included notable players like Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis, which limited their rotation to just nine active players during Wednesday’s game.
"It’s good," Kidd said about the potential return of P.J. Washington, who was upgraded to questionable earlier, "Hopefully, he has a couple more good days here, and he can get back to playing.”
On the Spurs’ side, the success came during turbulent times as they continue to play without their All-Star center Victor Wembanyama, who is out for the remainder of the season due to complications from blood clots. His acting head coach, Mitch Johnson, praised Wembanyama's engagement with the team even from the sidelines: "Wishing he could be out there. Anytime he can interact with his teammates and you see him on the bench, talking to people – doing everything he can other than throw on a jersey, so it’s awesome to have him around."
The Spurs' victory came as they aim to push toward favorable playoff positioning, improving their record to 33-34. For now, both teams gear up for their next encounters: the Mavericks will head to Houston to face the Rockets, and the Spurs will host the Charlotte Hornets, each on Friday, March 14, 2025.
With the regular season heading toward its climax, the playoff picture is becoming clearer, and performances like Fox’s will be pivotal for the Spurs as they seek to secure their place.