SALT LAKE CITY – The Spurs desperately want to return to the NBA Finals. To do so, they believe they can’t skip any steps, including taking their preseason games seriously.
That’s why Mitch Johnson called a timeout just one minutes and 50 seconds into Saturday night’s game in Phoenix.
“Tonight was not up to the standard we want,” the coach said. “We have to make sure we take advantage of the opportunities in front of us. We play opening night in 10 days. Tonight, it would not feel like we would be ready to go.”
In losing 102-98 to a Suns team without All-Star guard Devin Booker (rest), the Spurs fell into a 15-point hole after a lackluster start that upset Johnson. Although the regulars played into the second half, the Spurs still trailed by six when Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Co. left the game for good with about five minutes to go in the third quarter.
Luke Kennard scored 20 points and Jalen Green added 18 as the Suns improved to 2-1 and the Spurs fell to 0-2 while playing again without All-Star guard De’Aaron Fox (hip tightness).
Dylan Harper led the Spurs with 15 points on 6 of 9 shooting after scoring 16 on 5 of 7 in the in 123-116 loss to Atlanta on Thursday. Wembanyama and Castle each scored 13.
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Fortunately for the Spurs, they have three more tune-up opportunities, including Monday night’s outing against Utah (1-1) before the regular season kicks off against Oklahoma City on Oct. 20 in a rematch of the Western Conference finals.
While the regulars aren’t expected to get as much time against the Jazz as they did in the first two game – some might not even play based on the team’s preseason plan – it’s a safe bet whoever starts will play with more urgency after Johnson spent that early timeout ticking off a laundry list of complaints.
San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson, right, talks with Spurs guard Stephon Castle during a preseason NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) (Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press)
“It’s just transition defense, making passes and playing the right way and all those things,” he said. “Just a reminder. Not trying to overreact or be ridiculous. We need to play to the identity and the style of play and the fundamentals we are fully aware we’re supposed to.”
The players agreed.
“It’s setting the tone with our defense and our physicality, not letting them get so comfortable early,” Castle said. “We weren’t ourselves in that part of the game.”
Said Julian Champagnie, who finished with 10 points, “There’s some things we’ve got to be better at. It’s preseason Game No. 2. We’ll clean them up.”
The Spurs lost to New York in five games in the Finals. No matter how the preseason goes, they will enter the regular season as one of the favorites to win it all.
But it won’t happen unless, the Spurs first have an “understanding of what it takes to get back to where we were,” Castle said.
“Last year, I don’t think we skipped any steps, preseason, regular season, whatever it was,” the third-year guard added. “I feel like it shaped our identity.
“Obviously, we want to start the season off right and start off on fire. It takes time. Not skipping steps and understanding the process of getting back to where we want to get back to, that’s all the motivation we need.”
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This article originally published at Mitch Johnson: Lackluster 102-98 loss in Phoenix not up to Spurs’ standard.