BREAKING: San Antonio Spurs rookie Dylan Harper suffered a significant calf injury during a game against the Phoenix Suns today. The injury occurred while defending a dunk by Nick Richards in the second quarter, forcing Harper to exit the game prematurely.
The Spurs officially announced at halftime that Harper would not return for the remainder of the matchup at the Footprint Center. This latest setback further strains the Spurs’ guard depth, already depleted by the absence of veteran point guard De’Aaron Fox, who is sidelined this season due to a hamstring injury.
Harper, only 19 years old, was performing well before the injury, contributing 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting in just 11 minutes of play. His scoring average of 14.4 points per game had placed him fourth on the team, alongside averages of 4.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.2 steals over five games this season.
The injury occurred with 5:02 left in the first half when Harper landed awkwardly under the basket after attempting to block Richards’ dunk, which put the Suns ahead 48-37. After the incident, Harper was seen visibly wincing as he made his way to the bench, ultimately being escorted to the locker room by a member of the Spurs’ medical team.
This injury raises immediate concerns for the Spurs as they navigate the early part of the season. With two key guards out, the team will need to rely on other players to step up in the coming games. Fans and analysts alike will be closely monitoring Harper’s recovery and the Spurs’ performance moving forward.
Stay tuned for updates as more information becomes available on Harper’s condition and the Spurs’ next steps in this developing story.
