San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson, right, talks with Spurs guard Stephon Castle during a preseason NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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PHOENIX — One minute and 50 seconds into Saturday’s preseason game in Phoenix, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson called timeout to remind his team of a simple truth.
The exhibition at Mortgage Matchup Center wouldn’t count in the NBA standings. But for a team intent on getting back to the NBA Finals, every minute of preparation does.
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“Tonight was not up to the standard that we want,” Johnson said. “We have to make sure we take advantage of the opportunities in front of us. We play opening night in 10 days. Tonight, it would not feel like we would be ready to go.”
The good news for the Spurs, after a lackluster 102-98 loss to the Suns, is that they still have time to get right before opening the regular season against the archrival Oklahoma City Thunder on Oct. 20.
Ten days out, the defending Western Conference champions still have plenty of work to do.
Playing without All-Star guard Devin Booker, Phoenix shoved the Spurs into a 15-point hole in the first quarter and never let them completely up for air.
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Luke Kennard scored 20 points and Jalen Green added 18 as the Suns sent the Spurs’ preseason record to 0-2.
Dylan Harper turned in his second straight efficient scoring night to lead the Spurs, who were down an All-Star guard of their own in De’Aaron Fox.
Harper had 15 points, while Victor Wembanyama supplied the Spurs with 13 apiece.
The Spurs’ regulars played into the second half. When they took a seat in the middle of the third quarter, Phoenix still led by six.
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The rookies and non-roster invitees tried to keep the Spurs in the game in the fourth quarter, but could draw no closer than four points, which turned out to be the final margin.
The Spurs will head to Utah on Monday still in search of their first preseason victory.
Here are three takeaways from Saturday’s defeat:
San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) gets fouled by Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn during a preseason NBA basketball game, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Phoenix Suns center Duop Reath, left, forces a jump ball with San Antonio Spurs center Tarris Reed Jr. during a preseason NBA basketball game, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) goes up for a shot against the Phoenix Suns during a preseason NBA basketball game, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Phoenix Suns guard Jordan Goodwin (23) celebrates a 3-pointer against the San Antonio Spurs during a preseason NBA basketball game, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) blocks a 3-point shot by Phoenix Suns guard Jordan Goodwin, right, during a preseason NBA basketball game, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes celebrates a 3-pointer against the Phoenix Suns during a preseason NBA basketball game, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet (7) blocks a shot by Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn (0) during a preseason NBA basketball game, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (3) drives to the basket against Phoenix Suns forward Rasheer Fleming (20) during a preseason NBA basketball game, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie (12) passes the ball against San Antonio Spurs forward David Jones Garcia during a preseason NBA basketball game, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Phoenix Suns guard Jamaree Bouyea (17) goes up for a shot against San Antonio Spurs guard RJ Davis (14) and Spurs forward David Jones Garcia, left, during a preseason NBA basketball game, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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San Antonio Spurs center Tarris Reed Jr. (10) shoots over Phoenix Suns center Khaman Maluach, left, during a preseason NBA basketball game, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Phoenix Suns guard Jamaree Bouyea, left, is fouled by San Antonio Spurs guard Ja’kobi Gillespie, right, during a preseason NBA basketball game, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Phoenix Suns forward Haywood Highsmith (19) and Suns center Khaman Maluach (10) defend on a shot by San Antonio Spurs forward David Jones Garcia, left, during a preseason NBA basketball game, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Phoenix Suns forward Koa Peat (18) dunks against San Antonio Spurs center Tarris Reed Jr. (10) during a preseason NBA basketball game, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle, center, dunks as Phoenix Suns guards Jalen Green (4) and Collin Gillespie (12) look on during a preseason NBA basketball game, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Three-guard lineup still on hold
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Fox missed his second straight game with what Johnson called “general tightness in his hip.” His absence postponed the debut of the Spurs’ much anticipated starting lineup built around Fox, Harper and Castle.
With or without Fox, Harper continued to make a bid for a starting job. He has totaled 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting over the Spurs’ two exhibition losses.
Johnson continued to downplay Fox’s injury, calling it neither serious nor a long-term concern. The veteran guard remains with the Spurs on their road trip, and the team has not ruled him out for its game against Utah.
With the regular season looming, however, expect the Spurs to play it cautious with one of their most important players.
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“Obviously we don’t want to push it,” Johnson said.
2. Wemby the assist machine
The Spurs registered 32 assists on 37 made baskets Saturday, a figure that normally would have a coach handing out high-fives all around.
Johnson was in no mood for that.
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“The numbers may lie sometimes,” Johnson said.
Johnson was pleased, however, with Wembanyama’s role in the Spurs’ assist tally.
The 7-foot-4 center led the Spurs with six of them against the Suns, as he carved up Phoenix’s defense with backdoor passes and kickouts.
“He’s always been a great facilitator,” said Castle, the recipient of one alley-oop pass from Wembanyama. “He sees the floor well. His assist numbers could vary. It’s the way he sees the floor, the way teams guard him. He gets a different look every single game. We want him to be default aggressive in all those situations.”
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3. Bryant added to walking wounded
Carter Bryant lasted 10 minutes of the first half before he had to leave for good after inadvertently twisting an ankle by stepping on teammate Devin Vassell.
A second-year forward, Bryant’s defense and rebounding is poised make him a key piece of the Spurs’ rotation — provided he can stay healthy.
As with Fox, Johnson painted Bryant’s early exit Saturday as precautionary.
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“I hope he’s OK,” Johnson said.
All told, the Spurs finished Saturday’s game without three players expected to play pivotal roles this season — Fox, Bryant and newcomer Tobias Harris, who is nursing a calf strain.
Between now and Oct. 20, one of Johnson’s main jobs will be to strike a balance between keeping important players healthy while ensuring they are sharp enough to hit the floor running when games start counting.
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