Wembanyama sidelined Luka Doncic showcased his brilliance with 39 points in a triple-double performance, leading the Dallas Mavericks to a commanding 144-119 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night. The win came as Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama was unexpectedly ruled out after spraining his ankle during warmups.

Doncic, securing 12 rebounds and reaching his 10th assist just before exiting the game at the end of the third quarter, notched his 36th 30-point triple-double. This accomplishment places him just one short of LeBron James for the third spot on the all-time career list.

Facing a challenging 1-21 stretch, the Spurs’ fortunes took a hit when Wembanyama accidentally stepped on a ball boy’s foot after a shot before the game. Although the 19-year-old wanted to play, coach Gregg Popovich opted to keep him out as a precautionary measure.

Jeremy Sochan contributed 23 points and nine rebounds for the Spurs, who suffered their fourth consecutive loss despite ending an 18-game losing streak earlier. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 23 points, with Dante Exum adding 17 for the Mavericks.

The victory marked the end of a three-game losing streak for the Mavs, rebounding from a 26-point loss to the Houston Rockets the previous night. Doncic, recovering from a quadriceps strain, led the charge as the Mavericks improved to 4-4 in the eight games Kyrie Irving has missed due to a right heel bruise.

Doncic, approaching the 10,000-point milestone in his sixth season at just 24 years old, showcased his scoring prowess by going 13 of 27 from the field, including 5 of 10 from beyond the arc. This performance marked his sixth triple-double of the season, underscoring his consistent impact on the court.