Game Preview: Suns host Spurs in preseason home opener

Who: Phoenix Suns vs. San Antonio Spurs

When: 7:30 pm Arizona Time

Where: Mortgage Matchup Center — Phoenix, Arizona

Watch: Suns+, ESPN 2

Listen: ESPN Phoenix 620 AM, SiriusXM

Two preseason games down. Three to go. Tonight will be the home (preseason) opener for the Suns after they return from their trip(s) to Detroit and Chicago.

Phoenix dropped their first 2 preseason games, but that’s not what’s important about the preseason. Jordan Ott is trying to figure out which combinations work best and who he can trust.

It remains to be seen what rotations will look like on both sides for this one, but if Wemby suits up, it could be a game where we see a lineup change with Khaman getting the start to address the size. Miles Bridges seems to be just fine, but he may not suit up due to an ankle injury in Chicago. Plenty to track tonight!

Tale of the Tape

All of the statistics listed below are from last season.

Probable Starters

Injury Report

Suns

We shall see if Miles Bridges suits up. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Phoenix rest him as a precaution, with it being the preseason and all.

• Mark Williams — OUT (Torn Left Labrum)
• Miles Bridges — DTD (Ankle)

Spurs

• Tobias Harris — DTD (Calf)
• Maliq Brown — DTD (back tightness)
• Jayden Quaintance (knee surgery rehab)

What to Watch For

There are numerous position battles throughout the roster; that’s where a lot of focus will be. Between Oso and Maluach for the starting center job, and which of the trio of Dunn, Fleming, or Peat cracks the rotation for that 10th spot, with the top 9 seemingly locked in, barring injury.

Whoever starts in Bridges’ place (if he misses the game) will tip Ott’s hand to who they feel best about. Or maybe it’s just continued experimentation of groups and combinations together. Who knows!

Devin Booker’s shooting woes are a storyline as well. I’m not reading into a rough shooting night in a road preseason game in October, but you know how that discourse goes. Coach Ott instilled faith in him, saying, “If he sees the rim, let it go.”

How will they guardWemby? How will they deal with the trio of guards that start? It could even be a game where we see Jordan Goodwin get a starting nod due to the lineup build of the Spurs, with Wemby being surrounded by shooters and quick combo guards.

Key to a Suns Win

Winning in the preseason is subjective.

It’s a win if the young guys show progress. It’s a win if everyone leaves the game healthy. It’s a win if the starters click again early on. It’s a win if the second and third units show a little more unity.

The final score does not matter to me, but the process of how we got there does. We only have two more of these things after this one, so we could see more of a sense of urgency from the guys battling for spots, minutes, etc.

Prediction

My prediction? There will be 48 minutes of action (unless we’re tied). Basketball will be played. And people will overreact to whatever happens. Thus is the life of preseason basketball in the association.

I’ll repeat what Voita said in his first prediction. The preseason isn’t about wins and losses. It’s about the development that occurs along the way.

Let’s get our first win of the preseason, folks. How about in a thriller on a Jamaree Bouyea buzzer-beater?

Suns 117, Spurs 116