The Spurs’ path back toward the NBA Finals begins with another bright young star coming to town. On Wednesday night, Victor Wembanyama and San Antonio welcome Cooper Flagg’s Mavericks in a matchup that feels like a peek at the Western Conference’s future. As of Monday, Nov. 2, the Spurs stood 5-2 and Dallas was 4-3. Both teams have shown exciting flashes, but San Antonio enters with the stronger early push.

The Spurs have won three straight games, including a 119-97 win over Utah on Monday. They have scored 117.6 points per game, a sign that their attack has many ways to hurt opponents. Wembanyama is the giant at the center of it all. The 7-foot-4 forward-center averages 25.7 points and 10.7 rebounds, but his biggest superpower may be defense. His four blocks per game mean opponents must think twice before driving near the basket. A block is when a defender stops a shot before it reaches the hoop, and Wembanyama does it better than almost anyone.

Dallas will ask Flagg to meet that challenge with speed, strength, and smart passing. The 6-foot-9 forward has started his second season with 25.2 points and 6.5 assists per game. His 2.5 steals show how often he can disrupt a pass or swipe the ball away. Flagg does not need to win every play alone. He can pull defenders toward him, then find teammates cutting to the rim or waiting in open space.

That teamwork will matter even more if Kyrie Irving cannot play. Irving is listed as doubtful with a knee issue, and his smooth ball-handling and shot-making would give Dallas another creator. Center Dereck Lively II is also out with a foot injury. Without Lively’s size near the hoop, the Mavericks must work even harder to rebound against a Spurs team that collects 46.7 boards per game. Rebounds are missed shots claimed by a player, and they can end one team’s chance while starting the other team’s fast break.

Dallas has one important edge to chase: the Mavericks make 48.3 percent of their shots, higher than San Antonio’s 46.5 percent. But Dallas also gives the ball away 17 times per game. Against the long, active Spurs, careless passes could turn into quick chances the other way.

San Antonio has more than Wembanyama, too. Dylan Harper brings powerful drives and sharp decision-making, averaging 18.3 points and 5.3 assists. Stephon Castle adds another big guard who rebounds, defends, and helps move the ball. Together, they give the Spurs several players capable of carrying a key stretch.

Flagg can make this a fierce fight, especially with his all-around game. Still, San Antonio’s recent surge, stronger rebounding, and towering home-court defense make the Spurs the pick to win.

Victor Wembanyama and Cooper Flagg Bring Early-Season Drama to San Antonio