The Spurs trailed by as many as 15 points after a 13-0 Suns run in the first quarter and lost 102-98 on the road. Dylan Harper led San Antonio with 15 points, but it was the bench pairing of Maliq Brown and Tarris Reed Jr. that kept the final deficit inside single digits.
What actually decided this game?
Phoenix opened a 13-0 run late in the first quarter, turning a 10-9 Spurs lead into a 22-11 deficit, and the Suns led by as many as 15. San Antonio won the second and fourth quarters, but Phoenix's answer in the third kept the gap too wide to close in a 98-102 final.
How did Harper and Wembanyama grade out?
Harper was San Antonio's most efficient scorer, 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting, but finished minus-14, worst on the team, a sign the group around him struggled while he was out there. Wembanyama's 13 points came on 6-of-14 shooting and 0-for-5 from three, though his 7 rebounds and 6 assists kept the offense moving even at minus-7.
Who were the bright spots off the bench?
Maliq Brown posted the best plus-minus for San Antonio, plus-6 in just 10 minutes on 3-of-3 shooting, and Tarris Reed Jr. added 10 points and 6 boards on 4-of-4 shooting, leading all Spurs scorers in the fourth quarter. Ja'Kobi Gillespie was plus-5 in 11 minutes as part of that same closing group.
Who struggled the most?
Julian Champagnie shot 2-of-7, including 2-of-6 from three, and finished minus-11 over 25 minutes. Devin Vassell was minus-8 in 23 minutes without cracking the box score's top names, while Phoenix's Luke Kennard (20 points, 4-of-10 from three) and Jalen Green (18 points) did the most damage against San Antonio's defense.
What does this mean heading into the opener?
It is San Antonio's second straight preseason loss, following a 116-123 defeat to the Hawks on October 8, with two days before the next test at the Jazz on October 12. The regular-season opener is nine days out, on October 20 versus the Thunder, leaving time to clean up the response to one bad stretch.
What was the final score of the Spurs-Suns preseason game?
The Suns won 102-98 on October 10 in Phoenix.
Who led the Spurs in scoring against the Suns?
Dylan Harper led San Antonio with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting, though he finished minus-14 for the game.
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