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Michael C. Wright
PHOENIX — The San Antonio Spurs experienced a setback in their guard rotation Sunday when the second overall draft pick, Dylan Harper, suffered a calf injury while trying to defend a dunk attempt by Nick Richards in the second quarter of a 130-118 defeat against the Phoenix Suns.
The Spurs shared the information during the halftime break that Harper would not return to the game. He was observed leaving the arena using crutches and wearing a protective boot on his left foot.
“My understanding is that it involves his calf, but I don’t have specific details at this moment,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson commented following the game.
Harper seemingly injured his calf when landing under the basket after attempting to contest Richards’ dunk, which put Phoenix ahead 48-37 with 5:02 remaining in the first half. Harper showed signs of discomfort as he moved toward the bench. After being substituted out, the rookie player was escorted to the locker room by a member of San Antonio’s medical personnel.
The Spurs entered the game at PHX Arena without the services of veteran point guard De’Aaron Fox, who has yet to participate in a game this season due to a hamstring injury sustained during the summer period preceding training camp.
Harper, aged 19, participated for a total of 11 minutes against the Suns, accumulating 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting. He came into the game ranked fourth on the team in scoring (14.4), while also averaging 4.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.2 steals across five games.
“Yes, I’m wishing him the best, without a doubt,” Victor Wembanyama stated regarding Harper. “We’ve witnessed impressive performances from him. It’s been quite remarkable to witness how well he’s performed. However, these situations occur. We must possess the capability to cope with injuries. But concurrently, we anticipate the return of some players.”
This defeat marked the first of the season for the Spurs, following their franchise-best 5-0 start to the campaign.
