Takeaways from the Spurs 94-87 win over Mavericks

Patty Mills 23 points off the Spurs bench helped lead San Antonio to a seven point win over Dallas to remain perfect on the road, 11-0.
The San Antonio Spurs (15-5) were missing some key pieces in their lineup. Parker was on the bench for the Spurs but did not log a minute. Ginobili and Gasol were both in San Antonio for rest.
Dewayne Dedmon and Niko Laprovittola both got their first starts of the year for the Spurs. Dedmon continued to make his mark while in games for the Spurs. He logged 26 minutes, finished with six points and 10 rebounds. He also had three blocks and two steals.
For Laprovittola, he scored seven points on 3 of 6 shooting from the floor. He logged 18 minutes. That could be because of the play from guard Patty Mills who came out as if he was carrying a flame thrower.
Mills energy helped lift the Spurs in times of need. He scorched the nets for 23 points on 9 of 12 shooting from the floor, that is including 5 of 6 from beyond the arc.
In the fourth quarter, Mills led the charge for San Antonio as he accounted for 15 of his team-high 23 points, at a point when the Spurs were down 13.
Just like their last game on Tuesday against the Magic, the Spurs did not play, well, Spurs basketball. From a night where they could not put the ball in the basket and had 19 turnovers, San Antonio went on another scoring drought in the third quarter–13 straight possessions and nearly seven minutes of the third quarter without scoring.
The Mavericks did not have an answer for Mills and Kawhi Leonard. Leonard who struggled in the first half finished with 21 points.
Gregg Popovich was impressed with the way his team dug down to grab the win.
”We dug down deep, didn’t moan or groan or whine, stuck with it and kept poun
ding away and found a way to win,” Popovich said.
Must Read: First quarter a key factor for San Antonio
Takeaways:
- Spurs +5 in rebounding (SA 42, Dallas 37)
- Bombs away. Spurs on fire from 3-point range. SA shot 57.9 percent (11 of 19), while Dallas 33.3 percent (10 of 30).
- Spurs defense was key down the stretch as they had seven steals and six blocks.
- Spurs bench outscored the Mavericks 44-31.
- Spurs became the third team in history to start the season 11-0 on the road (last year’s Golden State Warriors 14-0, 1969-70 New York Knicks 12-0).
- San Antonio has won seven in a row against Dallas.