The I-35 Rivalry: Mavericks & Spurs Rivalry History & Info

When Do the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs Play Next?

Dallas Mavericks tickets and San Antonio Spurs tickets can be found on their respective team pages, along with schedule information.

Are the Dallas Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs Rivals?

Yes, the Dallas Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs have one of the most intense rivalries in the NBA. Called the I-35 Rivalry because the two cities are connected via Interstate 35, the Spurs and Mavericks have met six times in the NBA Playoffs. Additionally, both the Mavericks and the Spurs are in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference. The Mavericks and the Spurs are two of three NBA franchises in Texas.

Who are the Dallas Mavericks’ Biggest Rivals?

The Dallas Mavericks’ biggest rival is the San Antonio Spurs, but they are also rivals with their foes in the Southwest Division: the Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans. Other Western Conference rivals include the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Mavericks also have a cross-conference rivalry with the Miami Heat.

Who are the San Antonio Spurs’ Biggest Rivals?

The San Antonio Spurs’ biggest rival is the Dallas Mavericks. However, because the Spurs are a distinguished franchise, they also have intense rivalries with the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies from contentious playoff series. The Spurs also have a geographic rivalry with the Houston Rockets.

Game Results Between the Mavericks & Spurs

Entering the 2024 season, the Spurs and Mavericks have played 231 times, with San Antonio leading the all-time series 135-96. The Spurs also have the longest win streak in the series, winning 16 in a row over Dallas at one point.

Dallas Mavericks vs. San Antonio Spurs History

Between 2001 and 2014, Dallas and San Antonio met six times in the NBA Postseason. In 2001, the top-seeded Spurs, led by Tim Duncan and David Robinson, beat the Mavericks four times in five games in the Western Conference Semifinals.

The Spurs then met the Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals two seasons later. These Mavericks were led by future MVPs Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki and had a franchise record 60 regular season wins. However, Nowitzki suffered a knee injury in the series and missed three games. San Antonio went on to win the series in six games and win the NBA Finals.

The Mavericks got revenge on the Spurs in 2006 on the way to their first NBA Finals appearance. Dallas beat San Antonio in seven games, which included a Game 7 overtime win. The two teams met in the Western Conference First Round in both 2009 and 2010, with each team getting the best of the other once. The Mavs won 4-1 in 2009 and San Antonio won 4–2 in 2010.

On the way to their most recent championship, San Antonio beat Dallas in the 2014 First Round in seven games. The Spurs were led by Duncan, Kawhi Leonard, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. After San Antonio rallied to take Game 1, the Spurs turned the ball over 22 times and Dallas equalized the series. Dallas took the series lead in Game 3 off a game-winning buzzer beater from Vince Carter, but the Spurs won Game 4, Game 5 and Game 7 to take the series.

Where Do the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks Play?

The San Antonio Spurs have called Frost Bank Center their home since 2002. Formerly known as the SBC Center from 2002 through 2006 and the AT&T Center from 2006 through 2023, Front Bank Center houses 18,418 seats for Spurs home games. The stadium cost $186 million to construct in 2002 and also housed the WNBA’s San Antonio Silver Stars from 2003 through 2014 and 2016-2017 before the franchise relocated.

The Dallas Mavericks play at American Airlines Center in the Victory Park neighborhood of downtown Dallas. One of two arenas that were sponsored by American Airlines (the other was American Airlines Arena in Miami), the AAC houses 19,200 for Mavericks home games. American Airlines has their headquarters nearby in Ft. Worth, Texas. The stadium cost $420 million to build in 2001.