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The San Antonio Spurs opened their 2026 preseason with a 123-116 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday at Frost Bank Center, surrendering a 19-point first-quarter lead before Atlanta rallied for the road victory.
San Antonio led 39-20 after the opening period, but the Hawks responded with a 42-point second quarter to cut the deficit to 69-62 at halftime. Atlanta continued to chip away in the second half before taking control in the fourth quarter.
Asa Newell led Atlanta with 16 points, shooting 5-of-8 from the field and 1-of-3 from three-point range. The forward also went 5-of-6 from the free-throw line as the Hawks improved to 1-1 in preseason play.
RayJ Dennis added 15 points and five assists off the bench, while Kingston Flemings contributed 15 points, five assists and three steals. Zuby Ejiofor finished with 14 points, and Jock Landale recorded 10 points, five rebounds and two blocks.
CJ McCollum scored 14 points and made four of his six three-point attempts. Onyeka Okongwu added 13 points and five assists, while Dyson Daniels also scored 13 points and collected 11 rebounds, completing a double-double.
Atlanta’s offense found its rhythm after the opening quarter, finishing with 46-of-103 shooting from the field, including 18-of-46 from three-point range. The Hawks also recorded 30 assists and committed only 10 turnovers.
Dylan Harper led San Antonio with 16 points, four assists and four rebounds in 19 minutes. The rookie guard shot 5-of-7 from the field and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, providing an encouraging performance despite the defeat.
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Stephon Castle added 14 points, four rebounds and three assists, while Devin Vassell scored 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting. Carter Bryant and David Jones Garcia each contributed 14 points off the bench, with Bryant making two three-pointers and Jones Garcia shooting 4-of-9 from the field.
Victor Wembanyama finished with nine points, six rebounds and one block in 17 minutes. He shot 3-of-6 from the field, including 1-of-2 from three-point range, and made two of his four free throws.
The Spurs shot 46% from the field and 38% from three-point range but committed 21 turnovers, compared with Atlanta’s 10. San Antonio also had 20 assists, well below the Hawks’ 30, as the visitors took advantage of the difference in ball security.
Atlanta’s decisive push came late in the fourth quarter. After San Antonio briefly moved ahead 109-108 on Carter Bryant’s free throws, Newell scored on an alley-oop to restore the Hawks’ lead. Atlanta then extended its advantage through a series of baskets and free throws, building a 121-109 cushion with less than two minutes remaining.
San Antonio’s late scoring narrowed the margin, but the Spurs could not complete their comeback. They will look to respond in their next preseason outing after letting an early advantage slip away.
