Week Ahead: Utah, Phoenix, Sacramento, Then the Thunder

By the Spurs Nightly Desk · Monday, October 12

San Antonio plays three more exhibitions, in Utah, against Phoenix again and against Sacramento, before the regular season opens at home against Oklahoma City on October 20. Rest, injury returns and who starts matter more this week than any preseason score.

Spurs Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

What's actually on the schedule this week?

Four games: Monday at Utah, Wednesday at home against Phoenix for a rematch, Friday at home against Sacramento, then the regular-season opener against Oklahoma City at home on October 20, broadcast on NBC and Peacock. The first three are preseason tune-ups; only the Thunder game affects the standings.

Which game on this schedule actually matters?

October 20, against Oklahoma City, at home. The Thunder are the team San Antonio eliminated in a seven-game Western Conference finals last season before falling to the Knicks in the Finals. Everything on this week's schedule before that date is preparation; the Thunder game is the first one with real stakes for a roster that returns largely intact.

How much rest will the Spurs get this week?

Not much, early in the week. Monday's trip to Utah is the second of two straight true road games, arriving on one day of rest after two games played in the previous seven. The schedule eases from there: two home games follow before an extra rest day ahead of the opener against Oklahoma City.

Who's missing for San Antonio?

Tobias Harris's left calf strain is tracked for an October 20 return, timed to the opener itself. De'Aaron Fox, Malik Williams and Carter Bryant each carry day-to-day tags, with target return dates that line up with Monday's game in Utah. Jayden Quaintance remains out with a right knee issue and is not expected back until December 1.

Is Utah healthy heading into Monday?

Not entirely. Lauri Markkanen carries a day-to-day tag for a neck issue, and Kyle Filipowski and Brice Sensabaugh are each day-to-day as well, for back and hip injuries respectively. Utah enters well rested, with five days off and only one game played in the past week, after finishing last season 22-60 under Will Hardy.

The verdictThe week is about availability, not preseason scores: whether Fox, Williams and Bryant are actually ready Monday, and whether Harris is ready for opening night against the Thunder, the team San Antonio already beat once with a trip to the Finals on the line.

When do the Spurs play the Thunder?

October 20, at home, in the regular-season opener, on NBC and Peacock.

Is De'Aaron Fox playing against the Jazz?

Fox carries a day-to-day tag for an undisclosed issue, and his target return date is October 12, the day of the Utah game.