What we learned from the Spurs win over the Mavericks

DALLAS, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 5: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots the ball against Victor Wembanyama #1 and Devin Vassell #24 of the San Antonio Spurs during the first half at American Airlines Center on February 5, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The NBA’s official definition of “clutch time” refers to when a game is within five points or less in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime. It can be exciting for fans who want a thrilling game, but it can also be stressful and may not be for everyone on every night, especially if you’re already tired or stressed and just want a relaxing viewing experience.

The Spurs have not been relaxing to watch lately, and frankly, I’m starting to think they like it that way. I think they like playing in the clutch. They enjoy the thrill and experience that comes with closing out tight games, and as fans may have deduced at this point, they’re good at it. The have the fifth best record in the league in “clutch” games, sitting at 19-10 (65.5%, just slightly under their overall win percentage), and it’s almost like they’re out to increase that number, which they did last night.

Their opponent was an improving Mavericks team that is no longer the deer-in-the-headlights group they encountered in their season opener — led by the then doe-eyed but now scintillating Cooper Flagg — but they have also committed to starting over from the mess former GM Nico Harrison created. They traded away the cornerstone of his shocking and terrible deal that sent Luka Doncic to LA, sending the oft-injured Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards, and I sensed a bit of relief in the air of their arena last night, even from my own couch. That painful page in franchise history is officially turned for good, and now they can move on (even if it will always linger, like the page that a book always opens to first because it’s been open so much lately that the spine has been shaped around it).

Despite being likely destined for the lottery again, the Mavs showed that with the right future moves, they and Flagg could be a force to reconned with again soon, and the Spurs learned that last night. With their propensity to play down to opponents, they failed to build any kind of sizable lead all night but remained ahead and just enough in control to stop any threating Mavs runs. With 5:15 left in the game, Devin Vassell hit one of his reliable midrange jumpers to put them ahead by seven, but wait! We can’t have the Spurs not having any clutch time when they enjoy it so much, so of course they allowed a quick 6-0 Mavs run to get within a point a minute later, and perhaps for the first time all game, there may have been a tad bit of doubt about the outcome.

But then, the Spurs proceeded with what I’ve decided has been their mischievous plan all along considering the repeating pattern: dominate the rest of clutch time by closing on a 15-4 run so they could continue to pad those clutch time stats. Stephon Castle hit a big three to start it off and put back a Victor Webmanyama miss with an emphatic dunk to close things out, and everyone did everything right on both ends in between.

As fun as it may be, I need a break from tight games. Whether that relief will come in the form of a blowout win in the next three games or simply as a part of the All-Star break after that is the ultimate question. Don’t get me wrong: I love a team that knows how to tighten the strings and put things together on both ends when the game is on the line, which will be very important in the playoffs, but I would also happily accept a blowout win here or there, just for my own sanity.

Takeaways

Lately, the Spurs path to victory has been more akin to defensive slugfests because of their inconsistency on offense and from their three-point shooters. In this game, the defense was lazy at times, but they made up for it with a balanced offensive attack. Seven players scored in double figures, including all five starters, and overall, they hit 17-41 threes to keep the defense honest. That included Wemby and Harrison Barnes finding their strokes from outside, combining to hit 10-18 with the former hitting his first five (all in the first half) and the latter spreading them out across the game. It was especially noteworthy for Barnes, who has been in an extended shooting slump dating back months, and this was the first time he hit five threes since December 2. His stroke has slowly been returning to form in recent games, and hopefully this is finally the breakthrough performance that returns him to his Uncle Harrison form from earlier in the season. When he’s on, his spacing does wonders for the starting lineup (especially if Julian Champagnie is off, which he was last night with a 2-8 performance from three).
The Stephon Castle Viewing Experience continues to be a wild ride. Whether it’s game-to-game, quarter-to-quarter or even play-to-play, you never know whether you’re going to get his frustrating or game-changing version. Last night, he was mostly the latter. He came off the bench for the first time in 11 months after missing the night before to nurse his sore adductor, with the reason reportedly being he’s on a minutes restriction. He was his usual self regardless of role, with 18 points on 8-13 shooting, 7 rebounds 6 assists and 2 steals, plus the aforementioned huge clutch shots, but there was also the frustrating moments, like him driving into traffic and getting stripped on his way to three turnovers.
Don’t look now, but despite an up-and-down January when the Spurs barely crossed over the .500 mark with an 8-7 record, they have won three straight to start the month of February (even if they haven’t been pretty). As a result, they are in firm control of the second seed once again as the teams behind them continue to struggle, with a three-game cushion in the loss column on the Nuggets and Rockets. In fact, along with the Lakers, they are the only team in the West with a better record than 6-4 across their last ten games. That doesn’t mean they can relax — the schedule continues to be brutal, and the Rodeo Road Trip begins next week — but even if the Spurs want to give us a heart attack in the process of winning, it’s nice to be able to enjoy standings watching again.
Speaking of the Rockets, my Alperen Sengun sports hate has been justified. Thank you. (Not going to embed everything here, but for proof, click here, here and here. Rough 24 hours for the big fella.)