The San Antonio Spurs finished their preseason schedule on a high note, defeating the Phoenix Suns 123-103 on October 14. This decisive victory at home provided a positive send-off before the regular season begins next week. It was a welcome turnaround after a string of preseason exhibitions where results were secondary to player evaluation and system installation.
The Spurs flipped the script from their previous meeting with Phoenix. Just four days earlier, on October 10, the Suns had edged out a 102-98 win. This time, San Antonio's offense clicked, pouring in 123 points for a comfortable 20-point margin. While preseason stats are often misleading, the improved scoring output and defensive effort will please the coaching staff. The team showed clear progress in a short timeframe, executing more efficiently on both ends of the floor.
This game was the second of a back-to-back home set to close the exhibition slate. The Spurs had fallen to the Utah Jazz 119-109 on October 12. So ending with a strong performance was important for team morale. Coach Gregg Popovich likely used this final tune-up to solidify rotations and give key players extended run. The focus now shifts entirely to games that count in the standings.
Preseason wins and losses don't appear in the official NBA standings. But momentum and confidence are real. After starting the preseason 0-3 with losses to the Atlanta Hawks (116-123 on October 8), the Suns, and the Jazz, securing a win matters for a young team's psyche. It demonstrates that the work in practice can translate to game success, even in an exhibition setting.
The victory also allowed the Spurs to test adjustments made after the earlier loss to Phoenix. Solving problems against the same opponent is a valuable exercise. Player development remains the primary goal, but creating a winning habit is never a bad thing. The team avoided a winless preseason, which can become an unnecessary narrative heading into the regular season grind.
The preseason is officially over. All attention turns to the 2026-27 NBA regular season opener. The Spurs will host the Oklahoma City Thunder at Frost Bank Center on October 20. Both teams enter with identical 0-0 records, making for an intriguing opening-night matchup.
Before that, the team has several days of practice to refine their schemes. The coaching staff will review film from all five preseason contests, including this latest win over the Suns. They'll identify strengths to build on and weaknesses to address. The compact preseason schedule, with games on October 14 and 16, meant the Spurs stayed in San Antonio, minimizing travel fatigue before the real action begins. The final countdown to opening night is now underway.
