The San Antonio Spurs toppled the New York Knicks in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, although Dylan Harper had an all-time inefficient game for the Silver and Black.
The San Antonio Spurs bested the New York Knicks in a must-win Game 3 on Monday, winning 115-111 and getting to within one game of New York in the NBA Finals.
The Spurs were led by stellar play from Victor Wembanyama, who led the team with 32 points, and clutch last-minute play from De'Aaron Fox, who hit a midrange jump shot with 12 seconds left to seal the game for the Spurs.
Usually, San Antonio can rely on rookie Dylan Harper to be a steady presence off the bench, playing well above his age. However, in Game 3, he went one-for-eight from 3-point range.
He was able to add nine rebounds and four assists, plus no turnovers, although his outing is something he would rather forget.
Harper Joins Unique Spurs' Company
The Spurs are one of the most accomplished teams in the league and historically have dominated the NBA playoffs. However, even their best players can go ice cold.
The only players in franchise history to go one-of-eight (or worse) from beyond the arc in the postseason were Jaren Jackson, Manu Ginobili, and Victor Wembanyama. Harper has now joined that list.
Interestingly, Wemby's makeless outing against the Minnesota Timberwolves earlier this postseason is the only one of the four games the Spurs lost.
"One for eight, I'm never going to shoot that again," promised Harper after the game, although he made it clear that he's going to keep shooting and keep playing with confidence.
"To be who I want to be in this league, I feel like you kind of have to have that confidence," he added. "And if I want to go out there and perform, and I want to play like how I want to play, I kind of just have to just boggle down on my work."
That's a very Manu-sounding answer, and the all-time great Sixth Man has already taken Harper under his wing. They have a similar playstyle and mindset.
"He’s kind of, more than anyone for me, been that vet that’s been around the Spurs for a long time and kind of just giving me insight into what he’s been through," said Harper of Ginobili before the Finals started.
While the Finals might not be the time to pull the trigger constantly from deep, fans should be assured that Harper isn't going to let one bad game on the biggest stage deter him from remaining aggressive and getting to his spots.
