This Week's Preseason Slate Doubles Up on the Suns

By the Spurs Nightly Desk · Monday, October 5

San Antonio plays four preseason games in six days, facing the Suns twice before the week is out. Tobias Harris will sit out the whole stretch, and the group's rotation questions start getting real answers for the first time this fall.

Spurs Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

What preseason games are left on the schedule this week?

San Antonio hosts the Hawks on Oct. 8, then travels to face the Suns on Oct. 10 (ESPN2) and the Jazz on Oct. 12. Four days later, on Oct. 14, the Suns come to San Antonio for a rematch, closing out a stretch with four exhibition games in a week.

Why do the Spurs play the Suns twice in less than a week?

Phoenix is the only team San Antonio faces twice in this stretch, first on the road Oct. 10, then at home Oct. 14. Back-to-back meetings with the same opponent give coaches a cleaner read on lineups and matchups than one-off exhibitions, with the Oct. 20 regular-season opener now ten days out.

Who is set to miss this stretch of games?

Tobias Harris will sit out all four games with a left calf strain, with his return targeted for Oct. 20. Jayden Quaintance remains out with a right knee injury and isn't expected back until December. Jones Garcia is dealing with a right ankle injury, with a return targeted for Oct. 8.

Could Jones Garcia play in the opening game of the week?

His estimated return date is Oct. 8, the same day as the Hawks game, which lines up but isn't a guarantee. The team hasn't confirmed he'll be cleared to play that night, so his status is one of the things worth watching when the lineup is announced.

What comes right after this preseason stretch?

San Antonio closes the exhibition schedule after the Oct. 14 rematch with Phoenix, then opens the regular season Oct. 20 on NBC and Peacock. That's the team the Spurs beat in a seven-game Western Conference finals last season before losing the Finals to the Knicks, so the rematch carries history even in Game 1.

The verdictThe preseason stretch is really about reps and health: Phoenix twice, Harris sidelined throughout, and a possible first look at Jones Garcia before the real schedule starts Oct. 20.

When do the Spurs play the Suns in preseason?

San Antonio plays Phoenix twice in six days, on the road Oct. 10 and at home Oct. 14.

Will Tobias Harris play in the season opener?

He's questionable; his estimated return date is Oct. 20, the same day the regular season begins, but nothing is confirmed.