Spurs survive deficit to topple Mavs in OT, 121-108.

Luka Doncic laughs off losing the ball late in OT.

The Spurs led early, 26-16 after quarter one, but the Mavs struck back going 23-19, then erupting in the third quarter 36-18, only to egg on the fierce road warrior spirit of the San Antonio Spurs. The defending champions went 38-26 in the final quarter, sneaking within single digits. Dallas continued to fend off the Spurs, going up again by four points with a minute to spare on the clock.

Enter Nik Stauskas.

The sharpshooter splashed in back-to-back three-pointers, reminiscent of Joe Harris doing the same earlier this season in a good win, as the Spurs intentionally fouled Luka Doncic (20 points, 6 assists, 6-8 FT) as he made 1-of-2 at the line. Brandon Ingram got the ball out of the timeout after making a tremendous cut past his defender, bee-lining to the hoop for the easy score-tying dunk. A heave by Doncic fell far from the net as the buzzer sounded, with OverTime on the horizon in Dallas.

Brandon Ingram kicked things off, getting hit by Doncic and making a layup to boot, with the free throw on top of it. The Spurs would go on to win big in OT, 20-7 as the Mavericks offense slumbered as at the outset of this game, with Dejounte Murray driving hard to the basket. Stauskas buried another long-ball for good measure in OverTime, finishing with 9 heroic points.

The Rest:

Dejounte Murray charged his team with 30 points and 8 assists, hitting a clutch 3PTer in OverTime and finding open teammates, especially Stauskas & Avery Bradley late in regulation. Bradley scored 24 points with 3 steals and two three-pointers, two being back-to-back on Doncic in the final minute of the extra period. Brandon Ingram redeemed a quiet night with his game-saving throw-down for 19 points (8-16 FG%). Taurean Prince scored 8 points, and San Antonio's big men Mosgov & Allen dominated the paint with 27 combined rebounds & 5 blocks. Derrick White quelled momentum at certain points, scoring 7 points on a tough layup and a quick 3PT shot.

Dallas struggled against the Spurs in the shooting columns, 29 to 37 percent from deep, going 40% from the field to 48% by the Spurs, also missing six free throws whereas the Spurs only lost two. The paint battle went to San Antone, 54-50, both teams carving up the fast break 29-28 (SA), and both benches on fire 35-34 (DM). Both teams combined for 56 assists, 11 blocks & 11 steals. Only 13 turnovers marred the game, with each team leading by 15 points throughout the wild contest.