The 2024-25 NBA season is officially underway with the Dallas Mavericks picking up a 120-109 home win over the San Antonio Spurs in their first game of the season.
Although the Mavericks struggled to shoot from the field as a whole, making just 41.2% of field goals in the game, they also managed to shoot an impressive 43.2% from behind the three-point line in the high-scoring matchup.
Mavericks guard Luka Doncic led the team with 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists in his first live action of the year after missing the entire preseason with a left calf injury, though he shot only 9-25 from the field and 4-11 from behind the three-point line.
Guard Kyrie Irving also contributed 15 points despite shooting only 6-17 from the field while center Dereck Lively also chipped in 15 points and 11 rebounds off the bench.
Despite the Mavericks’ issues shooting the ball throughout the game, the team also held the Spurs to just 45.3% from the field and 33.3% on three-point shot attempts.
Mavericks Head Coach Jason Kidd said after the game that it “was a good team performance” and that there is still stuff to work on, noting that it is common for the first game of the season to be slow on offense while teams get adjusted.
“That first half, anxious, excited. Defensively we were good to be able to keep us close. That second half, Luka and Kai and Klay, being able to pick up full court, we got some deflections and steals. Our defense helped us win this game as much as (scoring) 120 points. Good team win we can build from. We got a lot to learn,” he explained, per Mavs.com.
One of the most impressive performances of the night was from new Mavericks forward Klay Thompson, putting up 22 points and 7 rebounds while breaking the record for the most three-point baskets made in a Mavericks debut with six.
Thompson said he was glad to begin his Mavericks career with an impressive game, but he also made sure to recognize that “it’s one game” and the team has bigger goals for the season.
“I don’t want to get ahead of myself. Tonight was a great start. But I’m not satisfied. We have so much basketball ahead. You can never be too high through the regular season,” he said, according to Mavs.com.
“We have really big goals. One good win at home is not going to satisfy any us. We want to be really, really good this year and get back to where they were at last year.”
Dallas will have the opportunity to continue striving for these goals in their next game against the Phoenix Suns tomorrow at 9 p.m.
