The San Antonio Spurs received a significant boost ahead of their playoff opener, as rookie guard Dylan Harper is officially off the NBA injury report for Game 1 against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Harper, who suffered a left thumb injury on his shooting hand in the regular-season finale, is now expected to be available when San Antonio opens its first-round Western Conference series Sunday night at the Frost Bank Center.
Dylan Harper Cleared for Spurs’ Game 1 After Injury Scare
The removal of Harper from Saturday’s injury report confirms what Spurs coach Mitch Johnson had indicated earlier in the week following team practices.
“We expect him to play Sunday,” Johnson said. “He just got it hit and there’s going to be some pain there… He’s got to work his way through that, but we expect him to play.”
Harper fully participated in practices Tuesday and Wednesday, which focused heavily on Xs-and-Os rather than intense scrimmaging — a sign the Spurs were prioritizing readiness while managing his recovery.
Dylan Harper Named Spurs’ Playoff X-Factor
Even before his official clearance, Harper was already drawing attention as a potential difference-maker. Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports recently identified the rookie as San Antonio’s playoff X-factor.
“Well, as of late Harper is elite at shooting,” O’Connor wrote. “Over his last 32 games, he shot 45.6% from 3, and granted it was on a low volume, it’s an incredibly impressive development for him. His shot looks fluid, and he’s even shooting a better percentage from the line and from midrange too.”
O’Connor pointed to Harper’s growing offensive confidence as a key reason the Spurs could lean on him in crucial moments.
“So all indicators are looking positive for Harper, which is what makes him the X-factor: Wemby was a 29-minute-per-game guy during the season. He didn’t play over 40 minutes once. Who’s going to help fill the gaps when Wemby is on the bench? A lot of the time, it’s going to have to be Harper. And he looks capable.”
Spurs Rookie Dylan Harper’s Impact This Season
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Harper averaged 11.8 points, 3.9 assists and 3.4 rebounds across 69 games, shooting 34.3% from beyond the arc in 22.6 minutes per game.
His late-season shooting surge has elevated his role, particularly as a floor spacer and secondary playmaker alongside franchise star Victor Wembanyama.
With Harper now cleared, the Spurs regain a crucial piece of their rotation heading into a high-stakes playoff series.
Victor Wembanyama Near Full Strength for Playoff Opener
San Antonio also received encouraging news on Wembanyama, who has been working back from a left rib injury. The All-Star big man completed multiple practices this week and indicated he is close to peak condition.
“I’m very close, but we never really go back to 100%… There’s always something going on,” Wembanyama said. “In terms of regular-season shape, I’m very close.”
Having both Wembanyama and Harper available gives the Spurs a more complete lineup as they prepare for Portland.
Spurs Focused on Preparation Ahead of Playoff Return
The Spurs coaching staff has emphasized routine and preparation during a rare stretch of full practices leading into the postseason.
“It was nice to have a practice… It’s nice to be at home,” Johnson said. “We’re preparing and we’re attempting to execute… There’s really not a lot of different themes.”
Game 1 is set for Sunday at 9 p.m. ET in San Antonio. With Harper officially cleared and emerging as a potential X-factor, the rookie now has an opportunity to make an immediate impact in his playoff debut.
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