Suns vs. Spurs Preview: Can Phoenix Really Slow Down Wembanyama and Pull Off the Upset?

The Landscape

The Phoenix Suns (2-4) host the red-hot San Antonio Spurs (5-0) tonight in a key early-season Western Conference matchup. San Antonio is off to the best start in franchise history, riding the early MVP-caliber surge of Victor Wembanyama. kitsapsun.com+3sports.yahoo.com+3991thesportsanimal.com+3

Here are the latest betting odds to set the stage:

• Spread: Spurs -5.5, Suns +5.5. si.com+2foxsports.com+2

• Moneyline: Spurs around -230, Suns around +190. si.com+1

• Over/Under (total points): ~227.5. si.com+1

One more stat worth noting: Wembanyama is averaging roughly 30.2 points, 14.6 rebounds, and 4.8 blocks per game so far. espn.com+1

History & Wembanyama Against Phoenix

When it comes to how Wembanyama has fared against the Suns: in 4 career games versus Phoenix, he’s averaged about 21.0 points, 9.0 boards and 3.5 assists. StatMuse+1
While that’s solid, it’s below his current season averages — meaning Phoenix has shown glimpses of holding their own against him.

Why the Suns Can Win

Despite being underdogs, the Suns have a clear path to victory if they lock in:

1. Feed Devin Booker

Booker is the linchpin of Phoenix’s offense — when he’s hot, the Suns are dangerous. If he can draw Wembanyama out of the paint (or get him in foul trouble) and dominate pick-and-rolls or isolations, Phoenix can create scoring advantages.
The Suns must prioritize setting up Booker in favorable mismatches and make sure he gets enough touches early to dictate tempo.

2. Make Wembanyama uncomfortable

Stopping Wembanyama outright is unrealistic — his length, shot-blocking and versatility make him a unique threat. But the Suns can try to slow him down by:

• Pulling him away from the rim via 3-point threat movement and spacing, reducing his defensive/blocked-shot impact.

• Aggressively attacking him early in the shot-clock before he finds his rhythm.

• Using smart screening to force him into help rotations and open perimeter shots.
  If Phoenix limits second-chance points and finishes at the rim when Wembanyama’s in the paint, they raise their upset chances.

3. Get back on defense & control tempo

San Antonio isn’t just riding Wembanyama — they’re playing elite defense as a team. Phoenix must:

• Communicate on switches, particularly around Wembanyama’s rim presence.

• Crash the boards hard, especially on the offensive glass (to deny the Spurs transition buckets).

• Push pace when they have the opportunity but avoid careless turnovers.
  If the Suns can flip the script — turn defense into transition offense and make the game scrappy — they can disrupt the Spurs’ rhythm.

Why It’s Tough

• The Spurs are confident, undefeated, and playing with cohesion — early momentum matters.

• Wembanyama’s rim deterrence alters offensive looks and forces patience.

• The Suns’ recent record is shaky; they’ll need to play near-flawless to overcome the spread.

• Home expectations rise, but so do distractions; composure will be key.

Final Word

If the Suns feed Booker early, force Wembanyama away from his comfort zone, and flip the switch defensively, they absolutely have a chance to shock the Spurs tonight. It’s not an easy task — but in the NBA, big upsets happen when one team executes those three things.

On the flip side, if Phoenix lets Wembanyama dominate inside, allows second-chance points, or relies on outside shots that don’t fall, the Spurs’ momentum will likely carry them.

Pick: Dark-horse play — if the Suns show up disciplined and aggressive, they can cover +5.5 and even win outright. If not, don’t be surprised if San Antonio takes care of business.