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Victor Wembanyama debut game score, stats, highlights: Foul trouble limits Spurs rookie in loss vs Mavericks

Jordan Greer

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Victor Wembanyama debut game score, stats, highlights: Foul trouble limits Spurs rookie in loss vs Mavericks image

The first regular season game of Victor Wembanyama's NBA career is one that the 19-year-old will want to quickly put behind him.

Wembanyama played limited minutes in the Spurs' 126-119 loss to the Mavericks on Wednesday night because of foul trouble throughout the game. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft committed two fouls in the first quarter and two more early in the third quarter, limiting him to just 23 minutes against San Antonio's in-state rival.

Dallas star Luka Doncic spoiled Wembanyama's debut, totaling 33 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in his team's victory.

The Sporting News tracked live scoring updates and highlights from Spurs vs Mavericks. Check out all of the action you may have missed right here.

NBA POSITIONAL RANKINGS: PG | SG | SF | PF | C

Spurs vs Mavericks score

Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Spurs 43 25 23 28 119
Mavericks 36 28 32 30 126

Victor Wembanyama stats vs Mavericks

  • 15 points (6-9 field goals, 1-6 3-point field goals, 0-1 free throws)
  • 5 rebounds
  • 2 assists
  • 2 steals
  • 1 block
  • 5 turnovers
  • 5 fouls
  • 23 minutes

Live score, updates, highlights from Victor Wembanyama's debut game

(All times Eastern)

Final: Mavericks 126, Spurs 119

12:15 a.m. — Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs kept it close, but Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving hit enough clutch shots to give the Mavericks a win in the season opener.

12:05 a.m. — Spurs fans explode after Victor Wembanyama throws down the two-handed slam dunk through contact.

11:55 a.m. — Victor Wembanyama re-enters the game and immediately makes an impact, finishing at the rim and drilling a pull-up 3-pointer.

11:45 p.m. — Only 30 seconds into the final frame, Victor Wembanyama commits his fifth foul and trots back to the bench.

End of third quarter: Mavericks 96, Spurs 91

11:40 p.m. — Josh Green closes out the third quarter with a 3-pointer, pushing the Mavericks ahead by five. Victor Wembanyama sat out the last eight minutes of the period because of foul trouble.

11:30 p.m. — Luka Doncic sinks a 3-pointer to give the Mavericks the lead, but the Spurs respond with a quick 7-0 run.

11:20 p.m. — Victor Wembanyama is forced to exit the game after being called for his third and fourth fouls early in the third quarter. A frustrating stretch for the 19-year-old.

11:15 p.m. — The Spurs' balanced scoring attack has been effective so far. Eight San Antonio players have at least five points, and four players are in double figures.

Halftime: Spurs 68, Mavericks 64

10:50 p.m. — A quiet second quarter for Victor Wembanyama, but a strong overall performance by the Spurs. They walk into the locker room with a four-point lead.

10:40 p.m. — Victor Wembanyama nearly had another 3-pointer, but Jeremy Sochan is whistled for an illegal screen, taking the points off the scoreboard.

10:30 p.m. — Spurs coach Gregg Popovich kept Victor Wembanyama on the bench to start the second quarter, but he is sending the rookie back onto the floor with nine minutes left in the first half.

End of first quarter: Spurs 43, Mavericks 36

10:25 p.m. — Right after checking into the game, Victor Wembanyama drills another 3-pointer. Unfortunately for the Spurs, he picks up his second foul on the other end.

10:10 p.m. — Victor Wembanyama heads to the bench midway through the first quarter. He has three points, two rebounds, one assist and one block.

10:05 p.m. — The first bucket of Victor Wembanyama's NBA career is a 3-pointer.

10 p.m. — Kyrie Irving thought that he had an open midrange jumper... nope. Victor Wembanyama shows off his massive wingspan.

9:55 p.m. — Here we go. Victor Wembanyama wins the opening tip, and Jeremy Sochan scores on the first possession of the game.

9:50 p.m. — And here is the Mavericks' starting lineup: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Derrick Jones Jr., Grant Williams and Maxi Kleber.

9:40 p.m. — We have a slight delay in San Antonio because the Celtics-Knicks game on ESPN is going down to the wire.

9:30 p.m. — Here is the Spurs' starting lineup: Jeremy Sochan, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Victor Wembanyama and Zach Collins.

9:15 p.m. — Can Victor Wembanyama match the stat lines of these other former No. 1 picks?

9 p.m. — Victor Wembanyama arrives in an all-black outfit for his first regular season game.

What channel is Spurs vs Mavericks on?

Spurs vs Mavericks will air on ESPN. Viewers can also stream the game on Watch ESPN or Sling TV.

Fans in the U.S. can watch the biggest games of the 2023-24 NBA season on Sling TV, which is now offering HALF OFF your first month! Sling base packages (Sling Orange or Sling Blue) start at just $20 for your first month, or you can get Sling Orange + Blue starting at $27.50 for your first month. There are no long-term contracts, and you can change your channel lineup anytime. DVR is included along with thousands of on-demand shows and movies.

Spurs vs Mavericks start time

  • Date: Wednesday, Oct. 25
  • Time: 9:30 p.m. ET | 6:30 p.m. PT

Spurs vs Mavericks will tip off around 9:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 25. The game will be played at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio.

Spurs schedule 2023-24

Here are San Antonio's first five games of the 2023-24 regular season:

Date Opponent Time (ET) TV channel
Oct. 25 vs Mavericks 9:30 p.m. ESPN
Oct. 27 vs Rockets 8 p.m. —
Oct. 29 at Clippers 9 p.m. —
Oct. 31 at Suns 10 p.m. TNT
Nov. 2 at Suns 10 p.m. NBA TV

Mavericks schedule 2023-24

Here are Dallas' first five games of the 2023-24 regular season:

Date Opponent Time (ET) TV channel
Oct. 25 at Spurs 9:30 p.m. ESPN
Oct. 27 vs Nets 8:30 p.m. —
Oct. 30 at Grizzlies 8 p.m. —
Nov. 1 vs Bulls 8:30 p.m. —
Nov. 3 at Nuggets 10 p.m. ESPN

Jordan Greer

Jordan Greer Photo

Jordan Greer has been with The Sporting News since 2015. He previously worked for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He is a graduate of Westminster College and Syracuse University.