The stars show out in Oklahoma City as the Spurs hold on to win Game 1 through 2 overtimes & a late surge by the defending champs.
OKLAHOMA CITY – About 60 minutes before tipoff of Game 1 between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals, Spurs rookie Dylan Harper learned he was starting in place of injured De’Aaron Fox.
“Treat it like every other game,” Harper said. “Going with the mindset of just being me.”
That mentality worked for the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
While Victor Wembanyama’s historic performance dominated the postgame conversation, Harper’s production was important and impressive in the Spurs’ 122-115 double-overtime victory against the Thunder in Game 1 Monday.
With Fox sidelined because of right foot soreness, Harper played 47 minutes and had 24 points, 11 rebounds, seven steals and six assists.
Dylan Harper records 24 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and seven steals in a Game 1 double OT win.
He became the second rookie with at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and five steals in a playoff game since steals were first recorded in 1973-74, joining Magic Johnson (1980). In the past 46 seasons, just three players have posted those stats in a conference finals game: Julius Erving, Larry Bird and Harper, according to basketball-reference.com.
Combine Harper’s play with backcourt mate Stephon Castle’s 17 points, 11 assists, six rebounds and San Antonio’s starting guards outperformed Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort.
This Spurs roster is taking shape and revealing what’s possible now and also in the future – a credit to the early 20-somethings. Harper turned 20 on March 2, and Castle, the 2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year, is 21. They were part of a Game 1 Spurs starting lineup with an average age of 22 years, 346 days.
Stephon Castle drops 17 points and dishes 11 dimes in a double OT victory in Game 1.
Both have had their moments in the playoffs prior to the West Finals. Castle scored 32 points against the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round and had 32 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in Game 6 against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the conference semifinals. Harper had 27 points and 10 rebounds against the Trail Blazers in Game 3.
The Spurs got lucky in the 2025 draft lottery moving up from the projected No. 8 pick to No. 2, and they selected Harper, who was known for his offense at Rutgers. Turns out, he can defend, too. He was in passing lanes, intercepting and deflecting the basketball, which sometimes led to layups for Harper.
“After the game, he was the first person I saw, and I’m like, ‘Bro, I don’t understand. You’re going on fastbreaks one-on-three and laying it up like nobody’s in front of you,’” San Antonio’s Devin Vassell said. “The way he’s able to get to the paint and finish, I haven’t seen it like that before. He’s going to keep growing. He’s just going to keep getting better.”
Going to a deep team that was ready for a playoff push meant Harper wasn’t going to start much this season and wouldn’t log as many minutes as other lottery picks. Eleven rookies played more minutes than Harper and eight scored more points.
How many rookies have played more minutes than Harper in the playoffs? One, and VJ Edgecombe’s season is over. How many rookies have scored more points than Harper in the playoffs? None. How many have more steals? None. Ands who has the best plus-minus? Harper at plus-103.
“It’s just been very rewarding for someone that’s tried to support him through this year and help him in terms of coaching him at times and giving him guidance of just trusting us,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “He was this good eight months ago. But we wanted him to get some corporate knowledge and learn the program and the fundamentals of this league and how tough it was, and to get in better shape.”
Harper embraced the opportunity and the role.
“I feel like not a lot of people get this experience just to be a part of such a great organization, a great group of guys,” Harper said. “I feel like the locker room is great. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. This is kind of where I’m supposed to be and just keep on just taking step after step.”
He added: “Earlier in the season when everyone didn’t see the vision, I kind of saw it and doubled down on it just wanting to win. I have never been in this position, but you’ve got to embrace a position like this if you want to help the team.”
Johnson was noncommittal about Fox’s availability for Game 2. Regardless of Fox’s status, Harper will be an important part of San Antonio’s rotation.
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Jeff Zillgitt has covered the NBA since 2008. You can email him at jzillgitt@nba.com, find his archive here and follow him on X.
