The Spurs head into Saturday night with a clean bill of health for the most part, while Dallas is juggling a long injury list and one major question hanging over the matchup: Kyrie Irving.
Cooper Flagg is out for the Mavericks after hurting his shoulder against the Pacers last night, but he’s far from the only name on Dallas’ report. Irving is questionable with a knee issue, and Zacharie Risacher, Morez Johnson Jr. and Max Christie are also listed as questionable. Jett Howard is doubtful because of a calf injury, while Dereck Lively II, Caleb Martin, Santi Aldama and Tarik Biberovic are all out.
For San Antonio, the available group is basically intact, with Tobias Harris and Jayden Quaintance the exceptions.
That sets up a chance for the Spurs to get a foothold after a shaky opening to the season. Last year, San Antonio had Dallas’ number completely, winning all four meetings and doing so by at least 12 points every time. The loudest of those wins came in the season opener in San Antonio, when Victor Wembanyama exploded for 40 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks.
This Spurs team hasn’t looked anything like that version yet. The start has been uneven, with the new three-guard setup creating as many problems as it has answers.
The offense has flashed, then gone quiet. The defense has had similar stretches of promise and frustration, and getting key stops has been the biggest issue through the first two games.
Still, those games came against opponents expected to finish in the top three in the Western Conference, so the sample is small and the competition has been steep. The adjustment period is real, and Mitch Johnson is sticking with the current look for now.
San Antonio did show some growth from game one to game two, and this matchup offers another chance to build on that. Facing a battered Mavericks roster gives the Spurs a cleaner read on what this group can become when it starts clicking.
Irving remains the name to watch on Dallas’ side. The former Duke star sat out all four Spurs-Mavs meetings during the 2025-26 campaign, but he has a long track record of punishing San Antonio when he’s rolling. At 34, he still has the kind of control and shot-making that can tilt a game fast.
For the Spurs, the goal is straightforward: avoid the kind of start that turns a promising season into a scramble. An 0-3 opening would be a tough blow, and this is exactly the kind of game they can’t afford to let slip if they want to keep moving toward bigger goals. They still have 80 games to chase homecourt, but the margin for wasting winnable nights is thin.
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Still, the early spark has not erased the larger worry around this teams start, and the second quarter in Houston has only added to the sense that there is more work to do. The Spurs now head toward a meeting with the Mavericks looking for something more complete than a fast opening from Wembanyama, because the real question for San Antonio is whether the rest of the roster can match his urgency soon enough to steady the season. [Read more 🡒]