SAN ANTONIO – When they tip off the regular season Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. at Frost Bank Center against the San
Antonio Spurs, the Mavericks will be out to show that they’re not an after-thought in this highly-regarded contest that’s expected to have millions glued to their TV sets.
Of course, all of the pre-game hype in this game is about the inaugural NBA game played by Spurs power forward Victor Wembanyama. The 7-3 prized rookie from France has been hailed as the most highly-touted player to enter the NBA since LeBron James in 2003.
Mavs coach Jason Kidd described Wembanyama as a combination of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ralph Sampson. As far as his team’s role in this nationally (ESPN) televised contest is concerned, Kidd said: “It’s great to be involved in (Wednesday’s) game. It’s great for the league.
“It’s great for us as Mavs to be tested here on the road early.”
Luka Doncic (left calf strain), Jaden Hardy (left ankle sprain) and Dwight Powell (illness) are all listed as questionable for the Mavs. Meanwhile, Wembanyama told reports in San Antonio that the game against the Mavs “feels unreal even more” to him.
“I thought maybe a month ago that some preseason games would prepare me for that moment and it would be like just another game, maybe,” Wembanyama said. “But it feels totally different.
“Just the fact that it’s an 
actual NBA regular season game, is different.”
The Mavs tried to prepare for Wembanyama by having player development coach God Shammgod wear extension paddles on his arms when he was defending a few of the Mavs’ players.
“The things he does for that length is unbelievable,” Doncic said of Wembanyama. “Some of the things I saw are crazy – what he does on the court.”
In three preseason games, Wembanyama averaged 19.3 points and five rebounds and shot 55.3 percent from the field in just 21 minutes per contest.
*Spurs center Zach Collins is listed as questionable for the game with a Non-Covid-related illness.
*The Mavs are 22-21 all-time in season openers, including 9-12 in season-opening road games. Also, the Mavs are 80-115 all-time against the Spurs, including a 33-64 record during games played in San Antonio.
*In the Mavs’ 114-104 win over Detroit in their preseason finale last Friday, Josh Green scored 22 points on 8-of-12 shots, and Kyrie Irving finished with 17 points, eight rebounds and 11 assists.
*Rookie center Dereck Lively II has impressed the Mavs’ coaches to the point where he’ll be in the starting lineup Wednesday. 
Lively, who collected 14 points on 6-of-7 shots against Detroit, has drawn the task of trying to slow down Victor Wembanyama.
*The Mavs were 3-1 against the Spurs last season. In the 126-125 win over the Spurs last Dec. 31 in San Antonio, Luka Doncic scored a whopping 51 points. The Mavs also beat the Spurs in San Antonio, 137-128, in overtime, last season on March 15.
DALLAS MAVERICKS (0-0) at SAN ANTONIO SPURS (0-0)
When: 8:30 p.m., Wednesday
Where: Frost Bank Center, San Antonio
TV: ESPN
Radio: 97.1 FM The Freak; 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)
X: @DwainPrice
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