Looking to extend their current streak of five consecutive victories, the Dallas Mavericks are set to welcome the San Antonio Spurs and their energized roster led by Victor Wembanyama on Wednesday night, igniting a showdown between Texas rivals.

Since Kyrie Irving‘s comeback, Dallas has been on a winning spree, securing triumphs in five out of their six games in February, with the latest five in a row. Their most recent triumph was a remarkable 112-104 comeback win at home against the Washington Wizards on Monday.

In Monday’s game, it was Luka Doncic who led the Mavericks with an impressive performance of 26 points, 15 assists, and 11 rebounds, marking his 10th triple-double of the season. Irving mirrored Doncic’s 26 points, while Daniel Gafford contributed 16 points and 17 rebounds, aiding the Mavericks in overcoming a 10-point deficit after three quarters.

Despite breaking his nose last week, Doncic sustained a hit to the chin during the Washington game, requiring stitches due to a cut. He showcased his resilience by scoring nine points in the crucial fourth quarter, shooting 3-of-3, and adding four assists and four rebounds as Dallas dominated the Wizards with a 34-16 point margin in that period.

“He’s not soft, that’s for sure,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said of Doncic. “He’s one of the toughest kids I’ve had the opportunity to coach. And he’s not scared of a fight. The stitches and the nose. He’s rolling with the face right now.”

Dallas managed to secure the win despite committing 16 turnovers, with only three occurring in the second half. The team was without two key players – rookie center Dereck Lively II, out for his seventh consecutive game with a broken nose, and guard Dante Exum, absent for his ninth game in a row due to bursitis in his right knee.

The Spurs travel to Dallas after a resounding 122-99 victory against the Toronto Raptors on Monday, with Wembanyama standing out once more in his exceptional rookie season.

The French 20-year-old center/forward made history by becoming the first rookie since 1990 (David Robinson) and only the fourth player ever to achieve a triple-double that included blocks.

Wembanyama’s stellar performance consisted of 27 points, 14 rebounds, and a career-best 10 blocks, aiding San Antonio in breaking a seven-game losing streak.

“For some reason, we felt great (Monday),” Wembanyama said after the game. “Had some rhythm. Started the game strong. I guess it’s just the NBA. We have ups and downs. It’s just days when you feel like it. We got to play off of this as well.”

Devin Vassell contributed 25 points for the Spurs, alongside Jeremy Sochan with 16 points, Keldon Johnson with 12 points, and Malaki Branham and Blake Wesley each scoring 10.

Tre Jones dished out 10 assists, propelling San Antonio to a 17-point lead at halftime, which extended to 28 points after three quarters, leading them smoothly through the final stretch.

“The way we were all together just on the defensive end and getting out and running was huge,” Vassell said. “It just shows when we’re playing together like that, we’re just connected and making shots and getting stops (and) we can be a great team.”