Victor Wembanyama set career highs in points and rebounds as San Antonio edged Dallas by a single point. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year carried a team that struggled from deep, and the Spurs were outscored when he sat.

Victor Wembanyama posted 52 points and 24 rebounds on Wednesday night, both career highs. He also added seven dunks and two steals at Frost Bank Center. San Antonio needed all of it to hold off Dallas and stretch its winning streak to six games.

At the foul line, Wembanyama converted 19 of 23 attempts, and he hit 16 of his 28 shots overall. His previous career high was 50 points, set in a 139-130 win over Washington in November 2024. He is the first player with at least 50 points and 20 rebounds in a one-point win since Wilt Chamberlain in 1964, according to ESPN. Elgin Baylor is the only other player to do it.

A historic first half built the Spurs’ cushion

Wembanyama did much of his damage before the break. Since 1996-97, no player before him had paired five blocks and 10 rebounds with 25 points over a single half. San Antonio closed the half on a 19-3 run and led 68-51 at intermission. The Spurs made 25 of 27 free throws in that half. Dallas went 5 of 8.

The win came despite cold outside shooting. The Spurs made only 5 of 36 three-point attempts. They made up for it inside, outscoring Dallas 62-40 in the paint and winning the rebounding battle 61-50. Dylan Harper added 21 points, Stephon Castle had 17 points and 10 rebounds, and De’Aaron Fox scored 10. Still, the on-off split shows how heavily the night rested on one player. San Antonio won his minutes by 23 points and lost the rest by 22.

A rolled ankle and a missed Irving jumper decided the finish

The night nearly turned with 9:11 left. Wembanyama rolled his right ankle and went to the bench with San Antonio ahead 94-87. He came back later in the quarter. With the game tied 111-111, he made one of two free throws with 24.2 seconds left for the final point. Dallas then ran a play for Kyrie Irving that ended in a miss.

Irving led the Mavericks with 29 points, seven rebounds and five assists, but he shot 9 of 27. Naji Marshall scored 22. P.J. Washington had 21 points and 10 rebounds. Cooper Flagg added 19 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.

Wembanyama was not satisfied. “I can still do more,” he said, pointing to his missed jump shots. He also said he had been sick recently. He enters this season as the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year and the youngest ever to win it. He also finished third in 2025-26 MVP voting.

The Spurs, now 6-2, also beat Dallas 122-106 in the first meeting in Dallas. The Mavericks have lost two straight and fell to 4-4. San Antonio plays at Sacramento on Friday night, while Dallas hosts Utah on Friday.