Sergio de Larrea scored 21 points for the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night at the American Airlines Center, leading his team in scoring during a 122-106 defeat to the San Antonio Spurs. The 20-year-old rookie from Valladolid played 33 minutes off the bench, adding five rebotes and four asistencias while shooting 9-of-15 from the field, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc.
How Sergio de Larrea Stepped Up in the Texas Derby
Playing without injured rookie Cooper Flagg and resting veteran Kyrie Irving on the second night of a back-to-back, Dallas leaned heavily on its backcourt depth against San Antonio. De Larrea capitalized on the expanded opportunity after logging minimal playing time in his first two NBA appearances. He failed to score in his debut and logged under a minute on Friday, but head coach Dusty May turned to the former Valencia Basket playmaker as the game stayed close through three quarters.
The Spurs ultimately pulled away in the final period behind 23 points from Victor Wembanyama, but De Larrea maintained offensive pressure throughout his 33 minutes on the floor. His total surpassed the previous scoring highs recorded by Spanish players in their first three NBA games, eclipsing the 20 points scored by José Manuel Calderón for the Toronto Raptors against the New Jersey Nets in 2005 and Rudy Fernández for the Portland Trail Blazers against the Phoenix Suns in 2008.
May Praises De Larrea Against Strong Perimeter Defense
May explained that De Larrea’s performance was a great game for a young player against one of the best perimeter defenses.
Childhood Idols Shape the Rookie’s Playmaking
Reflecting on his ability to create scoring opportunities for teammates, De Larrea credited the Spanish guards he watched on television growing up. He pointed to Ricky Rubio, Sergio Rodríguez, and José Calderón as foundational influences on his court vision.
“No lo sé, la verdad. Pero he visto desde que era pequeño muchos vídeos de bases de España como Ricky Rubio, Sergio Rodríguez o [José] Calderón. Supongo que de ahí,” De Larrea told reporters when asked about his passing ability. He acknowledged that while his offensive output exceeded expectations, defensive execution remains an area for growth. “Pero todavía tengo mucho que mejorar: los cambios en defensa, estar más preparado, etc. Trabajo todos los días para esto y creo que lo de hoy ha sido el resultado de ese esfuerzo.”
Next Matchup for the Mavericks
Dallas holds a 1-2 record following the weekend loss to San Antonio and prepares for its upcoming schedule in the Western Conference. The Mavericks continue their regular-season campaign as team personnel monitor the recovery timelines for Flagg’s shoulder injury and manage Irving’s workload.
THE LARRY GAME, Dallas Mavericks Rookie Sergio De Larrea shines bright against the Spurs pic.twitter.com/2SepByCZUo
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