Spurs Struggle Without Dylan Harper in Game 1

The Spurs really needed a reliable second scorer in Game 1, but Dylan Harper found himself sitting on the bench.

Harper, the standout rookie from Rutgers, made quite an impression in his Finals debut, scoring 16 points in just 27 minutes. However, Coach Mitch Johnson only played him for a mere 3:33 in the critical fourth quarter.

Instead, Johnson relied on veteran De’Aaron Fox, whose performance was shaky at best. The Spurs faced a drought, failing to score for nearly 11 minutes during the fourth, ultimately losing 105-95 on the road.

Finding the right combination can be tricky, especially in the Finals. Great coaches typically find ways to maximize their best players without upsetting team dynamics, but this time it didn’t work out in the Spurs’ favor.

Throughout the regular season, Harper started just four games, and only two in 19 postseason games. Nonetheless, some might argue that he was the Spurs’ second-best player on the court.

During the game, he recorded 16 points and grabbed 8 rebounds, shooting 6 of 10. Interestingly, 12 of those points came in the first half, while he managed just four in the final 11 minutes. On the other hand, the Foxes were equally unproductive.

Johnson’s reliance on the veteran Fox backfired, as he netted only three points in over 20 minutes of play in the second half—seven points total in 38 minutes.

Harper saw limited action during the fourth quarter, stepping in with 7:37 remaining in a tied game and leaving with the Spurs up by four. He did make a crucial turnover during that time but didn’t take any shots.

It’s clear they could have used Harper’s scoring and rebounding abilities, especially as the rest of the Spurs—aside from Victor Wembanyama—managed just eight points in that final quarter.

Devin Vassell hit only 1 of 4 attempts, and Julien Champagnie, who previously started strong with a three-pointer, missed two attempts. Meanwhile, the Foxes struggled with two missed shots.

Fox has some critical skills for managing the offense, but he fell short in helping San Antonio after they had a 14-point lead in the third.

Perhaps Harper’s presence on the boards could have been key, especially when it came to securing an important offensive rebound that set up Jalen Brunson’s go-ahead three-pointer in the final moments.

Going forward, it will be interesting to see if Johnson switches up the lineup to capitalize on Harper’s current momentum, particularly against a Knicks team that has been performing well in the clutch.