Hawks at Spurs Preseason Preview: Atlanta's New Defensive Identity Meets San Antonio's Bench Depth

San Antonio's deep bench gets the slight edge over a Hawks team still defining its new identity.

ATL @ SAS Oct 9, 2026 at 12:00 AM UTC

Preseason games rarely reward the team with the best top-end talent, and that may help San Antonio on Thursday night in this Hawks-Spurs meeting. The Spurs' strongest storyline is on the bench, where Keldon Johnson, the 2026 Sixth Man of the Year, is expected to remain part of the roster. Alongside him is Dylan Harper, whose emergence last season made him another important young contributor. When starters get limited work and second units soak up minutes, that kind of established depth can decide a game.

Atlanta arrives with a clearer identity than most teams at this point in the calendar. The Hawks went 46-36 and won the Southeast Division last year, and they are now building around All-NBA forward Jalen Johnson after trading Trae Young. How much Johnson plays in an exhibition is unclear, but his creation and scoring will be the first thing the Hawks lean on when they want a bucket.

The more interesting Atlanta test is on the other end. The Hawks finished top 10 in defensive rating last season for the first time since 2016-17, and they have added Lu Dort to a wing group that already includes Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. That trio should pressure the ball and make San Antonio's young perimeter players work for every look. Watch whether Harper and Keldon Johnson can create against that length.

I expect a defense-minded game with a few sloppy stretches, as preseason games tend to have. Atlanta's wing defense and Jalen Johnson keep it close throughout. San Antonio's bench contributors, playing at home, should give the Spurs the better finish in the fourth quarter.

Prediction: Spurs 110, Hawks 107.

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