October 26, 2026 at 1:22 AM UTC

Pregame Analysis

Spurs Look to Build on First Win Against Winless Kings

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San Antonio has the star power, the depth and the momentum to hand Sacramento another loss.

The Spurs have their first win behind them, a 122-106 victory over Dallas that moved them to 1-2 after losses to Oklahoma City and Houston. For a team that came into the season as the reigning Western Conference champion, that win eased some early pressure. Sacramento arrives winless, and that contrast shapes this game.

Victor Wembanyama is the central issue for the Kings. He finished the Dallas game with 23 points, seven rebounds and four blocks, and his presence at the rim can change how Sacramento approaches every drive. Around him, San Antonio has a young guard group of Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper and De'Aaron Fox. That group gives the Spurs several ways to attack a Kings team still searching for its first result. The Spurs also have the poise from last season's Finals run, which should help them avoid treating a winless opponent casually.

Sacramento's roster is thinner at the most important spot. Ben Simmons is out for the year with a torn Achilles, and the Kings have been left without a true backup point guard. That puts extra strain on their primary ballhandlers and could make it harder to settle the game if San Antonio's pressure and size disrupt the first unit. The Spurs have their own absence, with Tobias Harris out with a left calf strain and no set return timeline. Others will have to cover his minutes, but San Antonio's overall depth looks better equipped to absorb that loss.

The Spurs have beaten Sacramento comfortably before, and the current form points the same way. Expect Wembanyama to control the paint, the guards to create enough separation, and the Kings' rotation issues to show in the second half.

Prediction: Spurs 118, Kings 107.

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