The San Antonio Spurs will play their first preseason game away from Frost Bank Center. They will be taking on a team with playoff aspirations and plenty of young talent in the Miami Heat. Kel’el Ware, the Heat’s first-round pick, has turned heads in his first two preseason games. Spurs’ young talent was similarly impressive.

Through three games, Stephon Castle, Blake Wesley and the other younger players on the team appeared poised to get regular season minutes. They were supported by the refreshing veteran presence of Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes. The Spurs have stepped up their game on defense and are moving the ball better on offense. It may only be preseason, but San Antonio is looking better than last year. They will look to build further momentum in their penultimate preseason contest in Miami.

October 15, 2024 | 6:30 p.m. CT

Watch: Bally/NBA TV | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)

(NOTE: Injury reports do not need to be completed the day before the game in preseason)

Spore injuries: Devin Vassell – Out (foot), David Duke Jr. – Questionable (unknown)

Heat injuries: Alec Burks – Questionable (Rest), Josh Richardson – Questionable (Shoulder)

What you should pay attention to

The big men’s rotation

If Victor Wembanyama and Zach Collins can play, we could potentially get our first look at the great Spurs rotation. It is believed that these two will be the Spurs’ starting and backup center. Sandro Mamukelashvili’s outstanding performance last season and in the preseason could cause a stir there. Mamu averaged 12.7 points, 3 rebounds and 2.3 assists while shooting 56.3% from three in the preseason. While he is a liability on defense, his offensive play in the second unit has turned heads. Gregg Popovich might be forced to find a way to get Mamukelashvili on the field if he continues to play like this.

Can Riley Minix get a two-way deal?

Riley Minix has stood out from the rest of the Spurs training camp participants. He shot the ball at a high level and showed good touch on all three levels. Minix is ​​only 1.90 meters tall, but he has played at center most of the time, showing his potential versatility. It appears he is the most likely candidate for the Spurs’ final two-way contract. The chances of securing this place are getting smaller and smaller. See if Minix can continue to stand out and secure a spot on the team.

Can champagne stay hot?

Julian Champagnie has secured the final starting spot while Devin Vassell is out for the start of the season. If he continues to shoot the ball so well, there may be a discussion to be had about keeping that spot next to Vassell when he returns. Champagnie has taken 4.3 deep shots per game while shooting 48.1% from three. Popovich was calling his number, running fade screens and pin-downs to give him open looks from deep, and CP3 in particular was looking for him. We’ve seen in the past that Champagnie looked like a true three-and-D starter, but the consistency wasn’t there. We may be talking about Spurs’ next diamond in the rough if he continues to play like this.