Stephon Castle set a Spurs postseason record while Harper made league history to help San Antonio overcome a double-digit deficit
San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper invoked franchise legend Manu Ginobili’s mentorship philosophy gained by him working for the team as a special adviser – impact the game any way you can – in a historic night for the rookie off the bench. Down star Victor Wembanyama, Harper stepped up alongside guard Stephon Castle to lead a comeback victory and take a 2-1 series lead over the Portland Trailblazers. Harper finished with 27 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. He became the youngest player in over 20 years to score 25 or more points as a reserve off the bench in a playoff game.
And he very much credits the mentorship of Ginobili in that with a lefty connection shared between the two of them, as he helped instill a “next game up” mentality about impacting the game and moving on to the next. It certainly helped to have a dynamic duo out on the court with the help of Castle, who had 33 points and five assists in the 120-108 victory. The pair of teammates became the second in league history to be 21-or-under and each score 25 or more points in a playoff game, joining former OKC Thunder stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in 2010.
Here is the full story from Spurs Roundtable writer Nick Teague on the short-handed win and how San Antonio can keep momentum.
It was a gritty win, as the Spurs went down 15 in the third quarter but went on an impressive 18-3 run to erase that deficit. It marked the largest comeback in a playoff game for San Antonio since Game 5 of the NBA Finals in 2014. It was a win that showed patience and execution can be defining factors in a postseason victory.