Photo by Chris Nicoll/NBAE via Getty Images San Antonio hosts its last preseason game against the young Jazz. It’s been an exciting preseason for the San Antonio Spurs. Chris Paul and Victor Wembanyama have clicked, rookie Stephon Castle has looked strong (literally), and younger players have shown improvement. The preseason isn’t necessarily an indicator of long-term success, but it sure does boost good vibes around the team. Coming off a fun win against the Orlando Magic, the Spurs will look to keep the good times rolling against the Utah Jazz. San Antonio Spurs (1-1) vs. Utah Jazz (3-0) October 12, 2024 | 7 PM CT Watch: CW35 | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM) Spurs Injuries: Devin Vassell – Out (foot), Charles Bassey – Questionable (knee), Zach Collins – Questionable (rest/shoulder), Keldon Johnson – Questionable (rest), Tre Jones – (rest), David Duke Jr. – Questionable (undisclosed), Nathan Mensah – Questionable (undisclosed) Jazz Injuries: Keyonte George – Questionable (knee) What to watch for Does Stephon Castle’s big preseason continue? Not to overreact to the preseason, but the Spurs may have another stud rookie. Stephon Castle was great against Orlando, posting 17 points, 4 assists, and 2 steals. He relentlessly attacked the basket, attempting 10 free throws. He’s shown poise, assertiveness, and strength rarely seen in rookies, garnering praise from his teammates and the coaching staff. Other than some turnover problems, it’s hard to find too many issues with Castle’s preseason. He’ll look to build on his strong debut against Utah. Blake Wesley’s improvement Castle’s hot start has been amplified by the improved play of Blake Wesley. The two of them are a defensive nightmare for opposing ball-handlers, hounding them and creating chaos. We all knew what Wesley brings as a defender. What has been more surprising is his poise offensively. He finished with 5 points, 5 assists, and just one turnover, his only of the preseason. While he’s not generating much offense for himself, the third-year guard is minimizing mistakes and elevating the team around him. That, plus his defensive ability, could earn him a spot in the Spurs rotation. We’ll see if his improvement is a flash in the pan or a sign of a big change in his game. Can Malaki Branham get back on track? While Castle and Wesley are having a strong preseason, Malaki Branham has struggled to make an impact. The third-year guard has gotten a lot of shots up, and not many of them are going in. Against the Magic, Branham had 11 points but shot 4-13 from the field. He’s been finding open shots from deep but hasn’t been able to knock them down. When Branham isn’t scoring, it’s hard to find other ways he’s impacting the game. Branham is fighting for minutes with Wesley and Castle as the Spurs look to solidify their rotation before the regular season. He’ll look to bounce back against the Jazz as he battles for playing time.