Late blunders doom Spurs in 133-129 loss to Mavs; Keldon Johnson chips in 28 off the bench

SAN ANTONIO — A tale of two Texas teams limping to the finish line briefly went Dallas’ way as the Mavericks edged the San Antonio Spurs, 133-129, on Monday night to prolong the Silver & Black’s slump. 

The loss drops San Antonio to 3-8 since losing Victor Wembanyama to a season-ending blood clot injury on Feb. 20. Three players scored at least 24 points for the home team Monday, including a game-high 29 points from Harrison Barnes, who made 12 of his 14 attempts from the field, including a 4-6 mark from 3-point land. Keldon Johnson chipped in 28 points off the bench. 

The Spurs rallied after the deficit reached seven points with 1:36 to go in the game. Stephon Castle swished his 3-pointer then grabbed a board on the other end to facilitate a Keldon Johnson bucket, bringing the score to 125-123 with 49.1 seconds to go.

But San Antonio fumbled its momentum from there. Looking for a stop on the other end, Devin Vassell fouled Dallas’ Kessler Edwards, who made both free throws to make it a four-point game. An awkward pass from Harrison Barnes on the Spurs’ end of the floor put the ball back in the Mavs’ hands, and Naji Marshall made two more free throws from the foul line to make it 129-123 with 32 seconds to go, sealing their victory. 

Klay Thompson had 26 points for Dallas in its first win since Feb. 27. Marshall scored 24 points, and Edwards finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds.

San Antonio dropped its third consecutive game. Devin Vassell finished with 24 points.

There were 12 players out with injury, including All-Stars Wembanyama and Dallas’ Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis. The injury bug even hit the officiating crew, with Sean Wright departing in the first quarter with a leg injury.

Dallas had only eight players available and Caleb Martin’s minutes were limited as he returns from a hip injury that kept him out for two months.

Mavericks: Edwards was 9 for 12 from the field in 35 minutes while playing with an eye injury. Edwards needed stitches under his left eyebrow Sunday after colliding with teammate Dwight Powell.

Spurs: Vassell and Johnson moved ahead of Sean Elliott on the franchise’s career 3-pointers list. Vassell surpassed Elliott for sixth with his first 3-pointer, and Johnson’s fourth 3 moved him past Elliott for seventh. Hall of Famer Manu Ginobili is the franchise leader with 1,495.

Edwards drained two free throws with 45.5 seconds remaining to put Dallas up 127-123. He was fouled by Vassell after San Antonio cut Dallas’ lead to two.

San Antonio was 14 for 24 on free throws.

The Mavericks and Spurs play Wednesday in the second of a two-game set in San Antonio.