Dylan Harper delivered a career-high 27 points, 10 rebounds and a dominant fourth quarter as San Antonio beat Portland 120-108. Stephon Castle added 33, Luke Kornet chipped in 14 and 10, and the Spurs' rookies helped erase a big deficit.
NBAharrison barnesdylan harperstephon castlevictor wembanyamasan antonio spursportland blazers
Dylan Harper picked a perfect night for a career high. In a game that swung from shaky to decisive, the rookie guard finished with 27 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block, plus a game-best plus-25. He took over late and helped San Antonio turn a double-digit deficit into a 120-108 win over Portland, all without Victor Wembanyama.
The Spurs needed every bit of that burst. Early on, Portland looked in control behind Jrue Holiday, who was excellent on both ends and, at 35, still played like the best player on the floor for long stretches. Holiday kept pressure on San Antonio's ball handlers and made life difficult for anyone trying to create clean offense. The Blazers also got strong stretches from their frontcourt and appeared ready to pull away after building a 15-point lead.
San Antonio's response came from youth, energy and a few timely veteran plays. Stephon Castle carried the scoring load for much of the night and finished with 33 points. Luke Kornet gave the Spurs a major lift in the middle, posting 14 points and 10 rebounds while battling hard on the glass and even knocking down his first three-pointer of the season. Devin Vassell added a key perimeter shot, and De'Aaron Fox helped steady the offense when the starting group needed a spark.
The turning point arrived late in the third quarter, when Harper and Carter Bryant changed the game almost immediately after checking in together. Harper hit a three off a Bryant assist, then attacked the rim for a smooth layup. Bryant added a three of his own, grabbed offensive rebounds and helped extend possessions. The pair's energy flipped the momentum and helped San Antonio erase most of the deficit before the fourth quarter even began.
Harper's best work came when the game tightened. He kept beating his man off the dribble, getting to the rim, and finishing through contact or creating clean looks in the midrange. He also showed poise in semi-transition, including one sharp spin move to get past Holiday and Toumani Camara. In the fourth quarter alone, Harper scored 10 points as the Spurs seized control. Castle added 11 in the final period, and the two young guards looked increasingly comfortable carrying the offense together.
The numbers behind the comeback were strong. San Antonio won the rebound battle 62-53 and blocked eight shots to Portland's four. That extra activity mattered because the Spurs were not getting much easy offense early. When the shots were not falling, they leaned on pressure defense, second chances and a bench group that kept the game alive long enough for the rookies to take over.
Portland still had plenty to like, especially from Holiday and Scoot Henderson. Henderson played with confidence and aggression, scoring efficiently for much of the series and showing why he remains a promising young piece even in defeat. Deni Avdija also had a productive scoring night in the box score, but his shot was off, and many of his points came at the foul line rather than from clean field goals. Robert Williams and Donovan Clingan each had useful stretches inside, but the Blazers could not sustain their advantage once the Spurs' pace and pressure picked up.
Fox's night was uneven until the closing minutes, but he still helped San Antonio survive the rough patches. The bigger story was that the Spurs did not need one star to carry everything. They had Castle attacking, Kornet anchoring the middle, Fox stabilizing the guard play and Harper arriving as the late-game force that broke the contest open.
For San Antonio, the bigger picture may matter more than the single win. A lineup built around Wembanyama, Castle and Harper suddenly looks dangerous, especially if Harper continues to grow into a primary creator. He is already showing the traits that travel well in big games: handle, touch, composure, and a willingness to punish defenders who give him space. If the jumper keeps coming around, the ceiling gets even higher.
That is what made this performance stand out. Harper did not just pile up numbers in a comfortable setting. He changed the game when the Spurs were under pressure, then finished it with the kind of control that suggests a player ready for larger responsibilities. With Castle also surging and Wembanyama still to return, San Antonio's future suddenly looks much more immediate.
