Spurs
Suns Turn Takeaways Into Points, Hold Off Spurs 102-98 in Preseason
The Suns built an early cushion and used a 23-7 edge in points off turnovers to beat the Spurs 102-98 at Mortgage Matchup Center. Phoenix led by as many as 15 before San Antonio's bench pulled it back to single digits in the fourth. Both teams are 0-0 in an exhibition game that carries no standings weight.
By the Hoops Nightly Desk · updated 10 d ago01The story of the nightA back-and-forth four quartersPhoenix opened with a 35-25 first quarter, its best of the night, but San Antonio answered with a 26-23 second…
Phoenix opened with a 35-25 first quarter, its best of the night, but San Antonio answered with a 26-23 second quarter to cut the gap to 58-51. The Suns pushed back out front in the third, outscoring the Spurs 27-22 to open their largest lead of the game at 15 points. San Antonio made one more push, winning the fourth quarter 25-17, but it was not enough. Phoenix closed it out 102-98, with lead changes totaling six for each side across the game.
02Kennard and Green carry the SunsLuke Kennard led all scorers with 20 points, going 8 of 15 from the field and 4 of 10 from three in 25 minutes, plus…
Luke Kennard led all scorers with 20 points, going 8 of 15 from the field and 4 of 10 from three in 25 minutes, plus 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Jalen Green scored 18 on 7-of-12 shooting with 3 made threes and 5 assists. Dillon Brooks added 15 points on 6-of-7 free throws. For San Antonio, Dylan Harper scored 15 on 6-of-9 shooting, while Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle each had 13 points, with Wembanyama adding 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 blocks, and Castle chipping in 7 rebounds and 5 assists.
03Decided at the turnover lineSan Antonio out-rebounded Phoenix 53-50 and out-scored it in the paint 48-42, and the Spurs bench outscored the Suns…
San Antonio out-rebounded Phoenix 53-50 and out-scored it in the paint 48-42, and the Spurs bench outscored the Suns bench 41-33. None of that mattered because of turnovers. Phoenix committed only 15 giveaways to San Antonio's 19, and turned its 11 steals into 23 points off turnovers. The Spurs, by contrast, scored just 14 points off their takeaways despite forcing 6 steals of their own. That 23-14 swing in points off turnovers covered Phoenix's deficit everywhere else on the stat sheet.
04Shooting splits were nearly evenField goal shooting was almost identical: San Antonio hit 37 of 87 (42.5%) and Phoenix hit 38 of 87 (43.7%).
Field goal shooting was almost identical: San Antonio hit 37 of 87 (42.5%) and Phoenix hit 38 of 87 (43.7%). Three-point shooting was cold for both sides — the Spurs went 11 of 34, the Suns 12 of 39 — and neither team got much separation at the free-throw line, with San Antonio making 13 of 15 and Phoenix 14 of 16. With shooting efficiency and free throws essentially a wash, the turnover battle and Phoenix's third-quarter surge were what separated the two teams.
05What it meansThis was a preseason exhibition, so both the Suns and Spurs remain 0-0 and nothing here affects the regular-season…
This was a preseason exhibition, so both the Suns and Spurs remain 0-0 and nothing here affects the regular-season standings. For Phoenix, Kennard and Green showing scoring efficiency off a big third quarter, plus Khaman Maluach's 15 rebounds, are useful building blocks heading into the regular season. For San Antonio, Wembanyama and Castle both producing across scoring, rebounding and playmaking is a positive sign, but the turnover issues that let Phoenix erase a strong fourth-quarter push are worth cleaning up before games start to count.
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