The San Antonio Spurs wrapped up their preseason with a convincing 126-97 victory over the Sacramento Kings on October 16, 2026. This dominant performance at home serves as a final tune-up before the regular season begins next week. The team now shifts focus to the opening night matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder on October 20.
The Spurs entered the finale looking to build on a strong performance just two nights prior. On October 14, they secured a 123-103 win over the Phoenix Suns. The preseason journey, however, was a mixed bag. It began with a 116-123 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on October 8, followed by a narrow 98-102 defeat to the Suns on October 10. A 109-119 loss to the Utah Jazz on October 12 preceded the two-game winning streak to close the exhibition slate. The 126-97 result against Sacramento was the most lopsided of the bunch, offering a positive final impression.
Head coach Mitch Johnson treated this game as a full dress rehearsal for the regular season. The primary rotation players saw extended minutes to simulate real-game conditions. This strategy allowed the core group to build chemistry and rhythm against a Kings squad expected to compete for a play-in spot. The second half provided opportunities for players on the roster bubble. Kendall Brown, a late addition to training camp, got a chance to audition for a potential two-way contract or a role with the Austin Spurs. David Jones Garcia also looked to break out of a preseason shooting slump against Sacramento's defense.
Momentum and health are everything before the real games start. More importantly, the team avoided any significant injuries during the dress-rehearsal minutes for the starters. The coaching staff now has valuable film on both the core rotation and the end-of-bench players before making final roster decisions.
The preseason is officially over. Attention turns entirely to the 2026-27 NBA regular season opener. The Spurs will host the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Frost Bank Center on Tuesday, October 20. Fans can track the team's progress and view the full schedule on our schedule page. The performance against the Kings suggests the Silver and Black are ready for the challenge. The real test begins now.
