SAN ANTONIO -- Spurs coach Mitch Johnson finally deployed a three-guard lineup featuring De'Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle in a 123-103 preseason win over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, explaining "it's time to push forward appropriately" the team's "natural evolution that will still take time."
That was apparent in the group's choppy start as Harper and Castle combined to miss their first five shots before Fox, making his preseason debut, subbed out with 6:57 left in the opening quarter.
But by the time the buzzer sounded for intermission, Fox, Harper and Castle had combined for 31 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in helping San Antonio seize a 60-49 halftime lead.
"I'm glad they got to play some together and we got some reps out there," Johnson said. "I thought we started the game with some very sloppy possessions, and everybody will have to have a better start to games and a better approach with that."
Fox drilled a corner 3-pointer with one second left for the Spurs' final points of the first half. Castle led all scorers with a game-high 18 points, including 14 from the free throw line. Harper, who finished with nine points, drew the most raucous cheers from the Frost Bank Center crowd with 34.5 seconds left in the second quarter, when he caught a Devin Vassell miss for a rim-rocking tip dunk.