Suns Chase Second Spurs Win Before Real Games Begin

Spurs, round two. San Antonio comes back to Phoenix on October 14, the second meeting in five days after the Suns won the first 102-98. The Spurs arrive with one rest day to Phoenix's three, and three games played in the last week to Phoenix's two, breaking in Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox in new roles under head coach Mitch Johnson.

Booker, Bridges eye return. Devin Booker has been day-to-day since October 10 for rest, and Bridges has been day-to-day since October 8 with a right ankle issue. Both are pointed at October 14 to play again, while Mark Williams stays out with a left shoulder issue that has no return date before February 3.

Minutes already shifting. With a teammate out, three Suns have seen their roles grow over the last three games: Dillon Brooks is up 8 minutes a night to 39, averaging 28.7 points in that stretch; Oso Ighodaro's minutes are up 12; and Jalen Green's are up 13. The sample stays short, but the pattern is already there.

Jazz close out preseason. Utah visits October 16 to close the preseason slate before Phoenix opens the regular season October 21 at Portland, four days later. That stretch gives Jordan Ott one more tune-up before games start counting, and before Phoenix learns whether Booker, Bridges and Williams are back on the floor.

Wembanyama still the measuring stick. San Antonio won 62 games last season and finished with the league's best net rating at 8.4, built around Victor Wembanyama's 25.0 points and 11.5 rebounds a game. Devin Vassell, Stephon Castle and De'Aaron Fox round out a roster deep enough that beating the Spurs twice in one week would mean something for Phoenix.

Preseason ledger so far. Phoenix enters the week 1-2 in preseason, having lost at Detroit and at Chicago before beating San Antonio 102-98 on October 10. Two more tune-ups remain, against the Spurs again and then Utah, before the record resets for the regular-season opener October 21 at Portland.