Three games into the new season, the San Antonio Spurs already look like a team trying to return to the NBA Finals. Their 122-106 win over Dallas on Oct. 24 showed the force that carried them through last spring’s long playoff run. On Tuesday night, the 0-3 Sacramento Kings arrive with a different mission: turn early struggles into useful lessons for a young group finding its path.

San Antonio stood at 1-2 through Oct. 25, but its record hides a competitive opening stretch. The Spurs lost close to Houston before pulling away from Dallas, and their defense has made a loud early statement. They average 7.3 blocks per game, meaning opponents often find a tall roadblock waiting near the basket.

That roadblock is Victor Wembanyama. The 7-foot-4 star is averaging 20 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocks. His shooting start has been uneven, yet he changes games even when his jump shots do not fall. He can reach shots other players cannot touch, grab rebounds over crowds, and turn drives to the rim into difficult adventures. Sacramento’s big men must stay strong on screens, the picks that free a teammate to move, while also keeping track of Wembanyama near the hoop.

The Spurs do not depend on one giant star. Dylan Harper has scored 20 points per game while using his sturdy frame and quick handle to get into the lane. Stephon Castle adds another powerful guard who rebounds, defends, and finds open teammates. Castle’s 4.7 assists show that San Antonio’s young guards are sharing the steering wheel instead of waiting for Wembanyama to solve every problem.

Sacramento needs that same shared purpose after losing its first three games. The Kings have scored more than 109 points per game, so they can create offense, but 15 turnovers per game have given opponents too many extra chances. Their three-point shooting has also been cold at 28.3 percent. Cleaner passes and calmer decisions could help the Kings keep pace in San Antonio.

Their most important answer may be Domantas Sabonis, who has been a one-man cleanup crew in his two games. He is averaging 18.5 rebounds and nine assists, remarkable numbers for a forward who battles inside and also sets up teammates from the high post. His clash with Wembanyama will be a tug-of-war between Sabonis’ strength and Wembanyama’s reach.

Zach LaVine gives Sacramento a proven scorer who can strike from outside or soar toward the rim. Rookie guard Darius Acuff Jr. is learning quickly as the new lead ball-handler, even though his shots have not fallen often yet. He will face long, active Spurs guards, making every smart pass important. Keegan Murray is listed as questionable, which could leave Sacramento with one less versatile wing.

The Kings have enough skill to make this a lively challenge, especially if Sabonis controls the glass and LaVine gets rolling. Still, San Antonio has more defensive size, more ball movement, and the confidence of a team built for a deep run. Prediction: The Spurs win.

Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs Bring Finals Fire Home Against Sacramento