Suns
Spurs Bury Suns With 38-Point Second Quarter, Win Preseason Rematch 123-103
The Spurs routed the Suns 123-103 at Frost Bank Center, blowing the game open with a 38-point second quarter and a 30-of-35 night at the free-throw line. It's San Antonio's answer to an Oct. 10 loss to Phoenix, evening the preseason series at 1-1.
By the Hoops Nightly Desk · updated 4 d ago01The story of the nightThe second quarter decided itPhoenix led or was even through most of the first quarter, trailing just 22-23.
Phoenix led or was even through most of the first quarter, trailing just 22-23. San Antonio then outscored the Suns 38-26 in the second, turning a one-point game into an 11-point cushion at 60-49. The Spurs kept pulling away in the third, 32-26, pushing the lead to 17 before Phoenix's bench trimmed the final margin with a 28-point fourth. San Antonio's biggest lead reached 25 points; Phoenix's peak advantage was only 6. Both teams had three lead changes, but the Spurs' second-quarter surge was the game.
02Wembanyama and Castle lead the wayVictor Wembanyama paced San Antonio with 19 points on 9-of-14 shooting in just 23 minutes, adding 5 rebounds, 3…
Victor Wembanyama paced San Antonio with 19 points on 9-of-14 shooting in just 23 minutes, adding 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 4 blocks. Stephon Castle scored 18 points by going 14-of-15 from the free-throw line. Off the bench, Carter Bryant drained 4 of 7 threes for 16 points. For Phoenix, Jamaree Bouyea had 15 points and 8 assists, Ryan Dunn added 15 points on a perfect 6-of-6 shooting, and bench big Koa Peat chipped in 10.
03Free throws and threes, not the paintPhoenix actually won the paint battle, 64-48, but it didn't matter.
Phoenix actually won the paint battle, 64-48, but it didn't matter. San Antonio shot 30 of 35 from the free-throw line to Phoenix's 12 of 15, an 18-point swing at the stripe. The Spurs also out-shot the Suns from three, 13-of-35 to 7-of-31, and won the boards 56-44. Phoenix turned the ball over only 15 times to San Antonio's 21, and actually scored slightly more off turnovers, 20 to 21, but it wasn't enough to offset the free-throw and three-point gaps.
04What it means for both teamsSan Antonio's starters set the tone early and its bench matched Phoenix's reserves almost point for point, 56 to 59,…
San Antonio's starters set the tone early and its bench matched Phoenix's reserves almost point for point, 56 to 59, a sign of depth even in a preseason blowout. Wembanyama's efficient two-way line and Castle's foul-drawing give the Spurs two building blocks heading into the regular season. For Phoenix, the loss splits the preseason series after its 102-98 win on Oct. 10, and the turnover-heavy, free-throw-shy performance is a clear fix-it item before games start counting.
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