The San Antonio Spurs head to Phoenix for their second preseason game against the Phoenix Suns, and the biggest question is whether De’Aaron Fox will be available after a late scratch in the opener.
Mitch Johnson had already announced a planned starting five for the first preseason game — De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, Devin Vassell and Victor Wembanyama — before Fox was ruled out. That made the Spurs’ first exhibition look more experimental than expected, even in a 123-116 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
Even with the defeat, San Antonio got a look at the kind of offense it wants to build around. The starters were able to show explosive scoring in the first half, which is encouraging as the team continues sorting out rotations and roles before the regular season begins.
What the matchup could reveal
Against the Suns, the Spurs may again lean into lineup flexibility. One possibility is a smaller group that uses Devin Vassell effectively at the four, giving San Antonio more spacing and more ways to attack in transition. That would also be a useful test against a Suns team that is expected to be scrappy and more physical.
That contrast matters. The Spurs have enough perimeter skill to stress defenses, but Phoenix can force them into a different kind of game. If San Antonio can hold up physically while still getting clean looks on offense, that would be a meaningful step in preseason evaluation.
The bigger long-term question is whether the Spurs can get their full starting group on the floor together. A first look at Fox, Castle, Harper, Vassell and Wembanyama would tell the team much more about its structure than the opener did. If Fox remains limited, the Spurs will have another chance to evaluate how the pieces fit without him — and how adaptable the roster can be when the lineup changes.
For now, the Spurs enter Phoenix with more questions than answers, which is typical for this stage of preseason. The good news is that the next opportunity comes quickly, and this one could offer a clearer look at where the rotation is headed.
