Top 2 Draft Picks Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper face off as NBA season tips off in Texas

Photo courtesy of the National Basketball Association

TEXAS (TXAN 24) — The NBA season tips off tonight and on Wednesday a Texas classic takes place as the San Antonio Spurs take on the Dallas Mavericks to open the year.

Two new faces headline the matchup. The Mavericks’ No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg and the Spurs’ No. 2 pick Dylan Harper. It’s youth vs. youth, Texas vs. Texas, and a fresh chapter in one of the state’s most underrated rivalries.

Dallas enters the game with playoff expectations after retooling around Luka Dončić, while San Antonio is banking on its young core to take the next step alongside Victor Wembanyama.

Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. from American Airlines Center with both teams looking to set the tone early. Expect fireworks out the gate.