Tobias Harris will sit out all four of San Antonio's preseason games with a left calf strain, and Saturday's scrimmage already showed Mitch Johnson testing lineups without him. The schedule turns real Thursday, when the Spurs host the Hawks to open preseason play.
What is Tobias Harris's actual status?
Harris is day-to-day with a left calf strain. He will miss all four preseason games and is questionable for the Oct. 20 game against the Thunder. ESPN, The Athletic and RealGM all confirmed the diagnosis, and Johnson has not set a target date beyond opening night.
Who picks up Harris's minutes in the meantime?
Carter Bryant is the direct beneficiary, according to Air Alamo's Ty Small, who argued the rookie forward has already shown he can handle the extra run Harris's absence creates. Julian Champagnie and Keldon Johnson also sit at Harris's position, giving Johnson three healthy bodies to rotate through camp.
What did Saturday's scrimmage show about the starting five?
Johnson split his group into two scrimmage teams: Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell and Victor Wembanyama on one side, De'Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper and Julian Champagnie on the other, with Harris held out entirely. Pounding The Rock's Marilyn Dubinski said the split offered no real signal on who starts opening night.
When does the preseason actually start?
Thursday, Oct. 8, when the Spurs host the Hawks. Two more games follow within a week: Oct. 10 at Phoenix on ESPN2, then Oct. 12 at Utah, before a rematch with the Suns on Oct. 14. That four-game slate is the only basketball San Antonio plays before facing the Thunder on Oct. 20.
What's still unresolved heading into the week?
How Johnson splits minutes among six rookies — Dylan Harper, Carter Bryant, David Jones Garcia, Ja'Kobi Gillespie, Taelon Peter and Jayden Quaintance — none of whom has logged a preseason minute yet. Camp has otherwise been quiet; no roster move has been reported in more than a week, and whether Harris's calf keeps him out past Thursday is the next thing to watch.
Will Tobias Harris play on opening night?
He's listed questionable for the Oct. 20 game against the Thunder. The calf strain has already ruled him out of every one of San Antonio's four preseason games.
When do the Spurs play their first preseason game?
Thursday, Oct. 8, when they host the Hawks. Two more preseason games follow within the week, at Phoenix on Oct. 10 and at Utah on Oct. 12.
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