After a disastrous year last season, the Phoenix Suns were quick to recalibrate their roster in the summer. Moving off aging and injured stars in Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, bringing in a combination of tough veterans and youthful legs, and the influence of rookie head coach Jordan Ott have all done wonders for a team that was projected to win about 30 games this season. More importantly though, the absence of Durant and Beal has cleared up the ball handling/scoring logjam that Phoenix dealt with
last season, leaving the offense largely in the hands of Devin Booker. Though still not a title contender, Phoenix has nevertheless been a fun story this year for the first time since they made the Finals back in 2021.
Meanwhile in San Antonio, a quick 2-0 road trip to California now turns into a quick 2-game homestand for the Spurs. They’re 8-2 in March, with one of the losses being a 5 point loss at home to Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets without Victor Wembanyama in the line-up. With a 60-win season/#1 seed very much on the table and April fast approaching, San Antonio’s young group is coming of age quicker than anyone expected them to, but very much aware of how much work is still left to be done.
San Antonio Spurs (51-18) vs Phoenix Suns (39-30)
March 19 2026 | 7:00 PM CT
Watch: FDSS | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Injuries:, David Jones-Garcia, OUT
Suns Injuries: Mark Williams, foot (OUT), Dillon Brooks, hand (OUT), Grayson Allen, knee (questionable)
What to watch for
- Devin Booker has had another strong season, averaging at least 25 points for the 8th year in a row. His shooting percentages are down a bit, especially from beyond the arc, but he’s making up for it by getting to the charity stripe a career-best 8 times a game (87% FT shooter). Booker can score with the best guys in the NBA and is a willing playmaker. He’s been Phoenix’s main offensive initiator all season, but he’ll face a San Antonio defense tonight that has grown into arguably the best perimeter defense in the league thanks to Stephon Castle, a collection of big, physical wings, and the always-lurking Wembanyama patrolling the paint. Booker played just 9 minutes in the last match-up, a 121-94 San Antonio rout back on February 19th in Austin.
- The Phoenix defense ranks 12th per 100 possessions. That’s just outside of the, “elite,” category, but it’s a massive improvement from their dreadful 28th ranking to finish last season. First year coach Jordan Ott has implemented a defensive system built on maximum effort and it can muck up a game for opposing offenses. Phoenix is top 5 in both steals per game and opponent turnovers per game, showing a knack for playing the passing lanes, but the Spurs are amongst the best teams in protecting the ball themselves.
- Phoenix’s offense is not only built around the gravity that Devin Booker creates as a dynamic offensive player, but also elite offensive rebounding. They grab nearly 13 offensive rebounds per game, the 5th best mark in the NBA this season, creating tons of extra opportunities for themselves. San Antonio is the best defensive rebounding team in the NBA though, and Phoenix has struggled to dominate the offensive glass margin since Mark Williams was sidelined earlier this month with a stress reaction in his left foot.
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