The Phoenix Suns defeated the San Antonio Spurs 102-98 at Mortgage Matchup Center on Saturday, October 10, earning their first home victory of the preseason.
Phoenix improved to 1-2 in exhibition play and 1-0 at home, while San Antonio fell to 0-2 overall and 0-1 on the road.
Luke Kennard led the Suns with 20 points, shooting 8-for-15 from the field and 4-for-10 from three-point range. Jalen Green added 18 points, five assists and three rebounds, making seven of his 12 field-goal attempts, including three triples.
Dillon Brooks contributed 15 points, two rebounds and two assists, while Khaman Maluach recorded a double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds. Maluach also collected three assists, one steal and one block in 23 minutes.
Phoenix established an early advantage, scoring 35 points in the opening quarter to take a 35-25 lead. Kennard and Green helped fuel the strong start, with the Suns finding success from the perimeter and building a 10-point cushion.
San Antonio responded in the second quarter, outscoring Phoenix 26-23 to trim the deficit to 58-51 at halftime. The Spurs continued to compete after the break, but the Suns maintained control with a 27-point third quarter and entered the final period ahead 85-73.
The Spurs made a late push in the fourth quarter, gradually cutting into Phoenix’s advantage. Maliq Brown provided a spark off the bench, scoring eight points on 3-for-3 shooting, including two three-pointers in the closing stages.
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Brown’s three-pointer with 11.2 seconds remaining brought San Antonio within four points at 102-98. However, the Spurs could not complete the comeback, allowing Phoenix to hold on for the four-point victory.
Victor Wembanyama finished with 13 points, seven rebounds, six assists, one steal and two blocks in 22 minutes. The San Antonio star shot 6-for-14 from the field but missed all five of his three-point attempts.
Dylan Harper also scored 15 points, adding four assists and three rebounds while shooting 6-for-9. Stephon Castle contributed 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists, while Julian Champagnie added 10 points, including two three-pointers.
Tarris Reed Jr. led San Antonio’s reserves with 10 points and six rebounds, while Luke Kornet collected 10 rebounds to go with four points and two blocks.
Phoenix shot 44% from the field and 31% from three-point range, compared with San Antonio’s 43% overall shooting and 32% from beyond the arc. The Spurs finished with a 48-43 advantage in rebounds and a 32-23 edge in assists, but Phoenix’s early scoring burst proved decisive.
