Without Devin Booker and Miles Bridges, the Phoenix Suns opened their preseason game against the San Antonio Spurs with a blistering run, hitting six of their first eight attempts from three-point range to take an early 22-11 lead and lead 35-25 at the end of the first quarter. Jalen Green set the tone with 12 points in the opening period.
Luke Kennard led the Suns with 20 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, while Dillon Brooks added 15. Stephon Castle stood out for San Antonio from beyond the arc and at the basket, and Dylan Harper, starting in place of the absent De'Aaron Fox, finished with 15 points, including a bank shot reminiscent of Tim Duncan and a block at the rim.
Victor Wembanyama recorded 13 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 blocks in 22 minutes, but shot 0 of 5 from three-point range. Tasked with matching Wembanyama's size, Khaman Maluach delivered 10 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal and a block in 23 minutes, already pulling down 10 boards inside the first eleven minutes. He converted an offensive rebound over Wembanyama, scored again near the rim, then added a three-pointer to push Phoenix ahead by twelve after three quarters (85-73).
San Antonio's reserves cut the gap to four with twelve seconds left. Phoenix held on for the 102-98 win, its first preseason victory.
