Dallas hung around until the fourth quarter ran dry

What changed

For three quarters, Dallas made a depleted lineup look functional. The Mavericks trailed by 14 early in the third, answered with a 22-7 run and briefly took an 85-84 lead. They entered the fourth down only 92-89 despite playing without Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving.

Then the game found the missing margin. San Antonio opened the fourth with an 11-3 run, held Dallas to 17 points in the period and finished a 122-106 win. Victor Wembanyama had 23 points, seven rebounds and four blocks; Dylan Harper added 22, while De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle scored 19 apiece.

The result was not only about absent stars. San Antonio created 25 second-chance points to Dallas’ 10, according to Mavs Moneyball’s statistical review, and the Spurs’ offensive rebounding helped stretch possessions after Dallas had defended the first action. The Mavericks still produced 28 fast-break points and 56 bench points, signs that the emergency lineup played with useful pace.

Monday in Miami should reveal which lessons travel. The encouraging one is that Dallas’ depth could generate a competitive stretch. The harder one is that effort and transition chances did not survive a fourth quarter in which the Spurs controlled the glass and the game.