The San Antonio Spurs confirmed why they are thought of NBA Finals favorites in their first preseason sport against the Atlanta Hawks. Despite dropping the sport 123-116, San Antonio’s starters shined in a first-half run stuffed with explosive offense.
Now the Spurs will head to Phoenix for a matchup with the scrappy Suns, who are wanting for their first preseason win. It may be the first time we see San Antonio’s full beginning lineup that includes De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper all taking part in alongside each other. Mitch Johnson announced that those three guards, Devin Vassell and Victor Wembanyama, would begin the first preseason sport, before Fox was ruled out in a late-game scratch.
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Whether the full starters play or not, sport two of the preseason will give the Spurs another alternative to experiment with lineups and see how this group gels.
October tenth, 2026 | 9 PM CT
Watch: DAZN/ESPN2 | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Injuries: Jayden Quaintance – Out (knee), Tobias Harris – Out (calf), Maliq Brown – Questionable (back), De’Aaron Fox – Questionable (soreness), Malik Williams – Questionable (undisclosed)
Suns Injuries: Mark Williams – Out (shoulder), Miles Bridges – Questionable (ankle)
What to watch for:
Small-ball beginning 5
The Spurs are allegedly beginning a smaller group, with Vassell successfully taking part in the 4. That becomes a lot simpler when you have a 7-foot-5 middle in the center of the flooring. San Antonio did a fairly good job of gang rebounding around Wembanyama in the first preseason sport. Saturday’s contest will pose an even larger problem, as they will be a smaller lineup, and the Suns are a more bodily group.
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Backup guards
David Jones-Garcia and Ja’Kobi Gillespie had spectacular video games in their first preseason contest, scoring 14 and 8 factors apiece off the bench. San Antonio is going to need depth at guard if they are beginning three of them and planning to stagger their minutes. Jones-Garcia and Gillespie will have a official likelihood to earn minutes during the canine days of the common season. More stable play in the preseason could earn them a bigger function when the time comes.
Carter Bryant
The Spurs sophomore wing regarded more assured in the first preseason sport. He had 11 factors on 3-for-8 capturing with 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, and 4 turnovers. He still wants to be a bit more affected person, but his aggressiveness is a welcome signal after some of his timid play last yr. If Bryant makes a large leap in yr two, the Spurs could have another versatile three-and-D participant they can plug in alongside their three guards and Wembanyama. Watch to see if he can proceed enhancing in the second sport of the preseason.
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