The San Antonio Spurs earned their first victory of the 2026-27 NBA season, beating the Dallas Mavericks 122-106 on October 24. That win snapped a two-game skid to start the year, giving the team a 1-2 record after a week of mixed performances.
The season began with a tough 116-104 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on October 20. The Spurs went ice cold in the second quarter, falling behind by 26 points. A second-half rally wasn't enough to overcome the deficit. Victor Wembanyama struggled, shooting just 1-for-13 from the field in that opener.
Things stayed difficult the next night. The Spurs fell 114-110 to the Houston Rockets on October 23. Alperen Sengun dominated inside and Amen Thompson blocked Wembanyama's potential game-tying shot in the final seconds. The new starting lineup of De’Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper, and Stephon Castle had offensive issues, scoring only 30 points over 45 possessions across the Houston and Dallas games.
The team finally broke through against a short-handed Mavericks squad missing Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving. The 122-106 win on October 24 saw the starters execute and put the game away with timely runs in the second half. Rookie Tarris Reed also showed promising flashes in his rotation minutes.
Wembanyama's jump shot has been off. Through preseason and the first week, he's hit just 2-for-11 from mid-range and 5-for-28 from three-point range. His impact, however, remains massive on the other end. The Spurs have allowed less than a point per possession with him on the floor. That number skyrockets to 133 points allowed per 100 possessions when he sits.
The defensive trio of Fox, Harper, and Castle has been solid, aided by Wembanyama's presence behind them. But the offensive fit is a work in progress. Last season's starter, Julian Champagnie, has provided a spark. The Spurs' offense has actually been at its best with him on the floor so far.
The schedule ahead looks favorable. The win in Dallas kicked off a 12-game stretch that could see the Spurs climb the Western Conference standings. Their next test is at home against the Sacramento Kings on October 27.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are the toughest opponent in this upcoming run. San Antonio will have a rest advantage when they host the Wolves this Saturday. Power rankings reflect the rocky start. The Spurs fell from 1st to 6th in one national ranking and from 5th to 12th in another. The focus now is building consistency and letting the new lineup find its rhythm.
