DYLAN Harper got the better of Cooper Flagg in a battle among top two rookies as San Antonio Spurs walloped Dallas Mavericks, 125-92, in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season on Wednesday night (Thursday in the Philippines) at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
The Filipino-American Harper, the No. 2 pick in the recent draft, finished with 15 points, on 7-of-14 field goal shooting, to go with four rebounds and two assists as the Spurs opened the season on a winning note.
Flagg, the top-overall pick in the rookie draft, posted a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds, but struggled with just 4-of-13 field goal shooting and a steal for the Mavericks.
Victor Wembanyama spearheaded the Spurs with a double-double of 40 points and 15 rebounds, Stephon Castle added 22 markers, while Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson tallied 13 and 11 markers, respectively.
Anthony Davis paced the Mavericks with a double-double of 22 points and 13 rebounds, PJ Washington added 17 markers, while Klay Thompson contributed 10 points in the loss.
Meanwhile, Tyrese Maxey tossed in a game-high 40 points and rookie V.J. Edgecombe finished with 34 to lead the visiting Philadelphia 76ers to a 117-116 victory over Boston Celtics.
Boston trailed 117-116 after Edgecombe missed two free-throw attempts with 8.5 seconds left, but Payton Pritchard missed two shots on the Celtics’ final possession.
The Celtics, who were playing without star Jayson Tatum due to an Achilles tear injury sustained during the previous season’s playoffs, got 25 points from both Derrick White and Jaylen Brown.
The Celtics had their largest lead, 88-75, following a Brown jumper with 11:10 to play, but Philadelphia was within two points after an Edgecombe basket with 7:56 left. Boston had a 109-100 edge with 3:47 remaining.
Philadelphia took its first lead in the fourth quarter on a Kelly Oubre 3-pointer that put the 76ers up 112-111 with 1:16 left./PN
BOX SCORE:
SAN ANTONIO 125 — Wembanyama 40, Castle 22, Harper 15, Vassell 13, Johnson 11, Barnes 7, Champaigne 5, Jones Garcia 5, Ingram 3, McLaughlin 2, Kornet 2, Bryant 0, Biyombo 0, Minix 0.
DALLAS 92 — Davis 22, Washington 17, Thompson 10, Flagg 10, Christie 9, Nembhard 8, Russell 6, Lively II 4, Marshall 3, Hardy 3, Powell 0, Martin 0, Cisse 0.
Quarterscores: 28-29; 60-51; 93-72; 125-92.
