San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, center right, greets fans after an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Friday, April 10, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
SAN ANTONIO — Victor Wembanyama had 40 points and 13 rebounds in his sixty fifth game to develop into eligible for NBA awards, and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Dallas Mavericks 139-120 on Friday night.
De’Aaron Fox had 18 points and 10 assists and Keldon Johnson had 17 points for San Antonio.
Rookie Cooper Flagg had 33 points, six rebounds and five assists for Dallas, which has lost 11 of 13.
READ: NBA: Wembanyama suffers rib injury, status for normal season unknown
WEMBY WENT OFF IN SAN ANTONIO’S WIN!
👽 40 PTS👽 13 REB👽 5 AST👽 2 STL
Playing just 26 minutes and 13 seconds, Wemby records the fastest 40p/10r/5a game in NBA history 🤯 pic.twitter.com/FtrJ66RmWl
— NBA (@NBA) April 11, 2026
After opening the season with a 40-point game against Dallas, Wembanyama reached 40 for the fifth time in what may very well be his regular-season finale.
The NBA requires a minimum of 65 games played to be eligible for season-long awards and Wembanyama got there in San Antonio’s penultimate game.
The 7-foot-4 Wembanyama, who leads the league with 197 blocks, is favored to win Defensive Player of the Yr, based on BetMGM Sportsbook.
He missed Wednesday’s 112-101 victory over Portland after suffering a left rib contusion throughout the first half of Monday’s 115-102 win over Philadelphia.
Wembanyama quickly showed he was superb by stepping through three defenders to throw down a right-handed dunk to open the scoring. He added one other dunk and a step-back 3-pointer while scoring 16 points within the opening period.
READ: Wembanyama wants to depart little question that he’s the NBA MVP
The Spurs won the Southwest Division for the primary time since 2017 and have secured the No. 2 seed within the Western Conference. San Antonio opens the postseason against a team that makes it through the play-in tournament — either Phoenix, the Los Angeles Clippers or Portland.
San Antonio closes its regular season at home Sunday against Denver.
Spurs guard Stephon Castle stays out with left foot soreness. Coach Mitch Johnson said Castle is near returning.
Up next
Mavericks: Host Chicago on Sunday.
Spurs: Host Denver on Sunday.