San Antonio's explosive first quarter and 23-rebound advantage power a commanding home victory as Sacramento completes its preseason without a win.
The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Sacramento Kings 126-97 on October 16, 2026, at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. San Antonio established control early, built a 34-point halftime advantage, and maintained its lead through the second half to finish its preseason schedule with a convincing victory.
Spurs Establish Control in the First Half
San Antonio's 42-point opening quarter set the tone for the contest. The 24-point difference gave the home team an immediate advantage, and the Spurs continued to produce offense in the second period to prevent Sacramento from closing the gap.
The Spurs scored 29 points in the second quarter while limiting the Kings to 19. That stretch brought San Antonio's first-half total to 71 points and left Sacramento with 37. The 34-point halftime margin became a defining factor in the final result.
Dylan Harper led San Antonio with 19 points. De'Aaron Fox contributed 16 points, while Victor Wembanyama finished with 14 points and eight rebounds, according to the reported game statistics. Their contributions helped the Spurs reach 126 points in their final preseason outing.
San Antonio finished 44-of-98 from the field, shooting 45 percent. The Spurs also made 17 three-pointers, providing an important source of scoring during the game. Their overall shooting efficiency exceeded Sacramento's, while their perimeter production gave them another advantage.
Kings Respond After the Break
Sacramento improved its offensive output in the third quarter, scoring 35 points after managing just 37 in the entire first half. San Antonio scored 30, allowing the Kings to gain five points on the home team during the period.
Despite the improvement, Sacramento entered the fourth quarter trailing 101-72. The Kings needed to erase a 29-point deficit, but the final period did not produce the scoring surge required to make the contest competitive.
Both teams scored 25 points in the fourth quarter. The even scoring left the margin unchanged, and San Antonio finished the night with a 29-point victory.
Zach LaVine led Sacramento with 20 points, shooting 6-of-12 from the field and making all seven of his free throws. Domantas Sabonis recorded 14 points and 10 rebounds. Ben Simmons contributed 14 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, according to published game coverage.
Sacramento finished with 34 made field goals on 82 attempts, shooting 41 percent overall. The Kings made six of 25 three-point attempts, a 24 percent success rate. San Antonio's superior field-goal percentage and greater perimeter production helped widen the difference between the teams.
Rebounding Gives San Antonio a Major Advantage
One of the clearest statistical differences was the work on the boards. San Antonio collected 61 rebounds, compared with Sacramento's 38, giving the Spurs a 23-rebound advantage.
The Spurs recorded 19 offensive rebounds and 42 defensive rebounds. Sacramento finished with seven offensive rebounds and 31 defensive rebounds. San Antonio's 12-rebound edge on the offensive glass provided additional opportunities to recover missed shots and extend possessions.
The teams recorded 20 turnovers apiece, according to the supplied team statistics. Sacramento registered 13 steals, compared with San Antonio's eight, but that advantage did not translate into a closer final score.
Sacramento also held a 26-22 advantage in fast-break points. San Antonio scored 52 points in the paint, while the Kings recorded 50. The Spurs finished with six blocks, compared with Sacramento's two.
Those numbers show that Sacramento had success in several areas, including steals and fast-break scoring. However, the Kings could not overcome San Antonio's early scoring burst, rebounding advantage, and more effective overall shooting.
Spurs Close the Preseason With a Win
San Antonio's victory was built on a dominant opening quarter, a strong second period, and consistent control of the scoreboard. The 71-37 halftime lead gave the Spurs a substantial cushion, and Sacramento's improved third-quarter scoring was not enough to change the outcome.
Harper's 19 points led San Antonio, while Fox scored 16 and Wembanyama added 14 points and eight rebounds. For Sacramento, LaVine led with 20 points, while Sabonis contributed 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The team statistics reinforced the difference in the game. San Antonio shot 45 percent from the field and outrebounded Sacramento 61-38. The Spurs made 17 three-pointers, compared with the Kings' six, according to the supplied box score.
San Antonio finished the preseason with a 2-3 record, while Sacramento completed its exhibition schedule at 0-5. The Spurs secured a convincing home victory through their strong first half and substantial rebounding advantage, while Sacramento was unable to recover from its early deficit.
The final score was San Antonio 126, Sacramento 97, closing the October 16 preseason matchup at the Frost Bank Center.
The San Antonio Spurs concluded their preseason on a high note with a commanding 126-97 victory over the Sacramento Kings. The Spurs' early dominance and rebounding prowess were key factors in their success. As the regular season approaches, San Antonio will look to build on this performance and carry their momentum forward.
