The San Antonio Spurs were one loss away from going home. Trailing 3-2 in the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Game 6 on Thursday night was about as high-stakes as it gets for a young team still figuring out what it's capable of in the playoffs.
Dylan Harper figured it out pretty quickly.
The rookie guard came off the bench and delivered one of his best performances of the postseason, helping San Antonio force a Game 7 and keep its season alive. But before he even got to the arena, he already had a reason to show up.
"My little sister called me before the game and told me, 'You gotta make it to Saturday,'" Harper said in an interview with ESPN. "I'm like, 'Alright, I got you.' I'm a man of my word. So just tried to be the guy that's composed on the floor and just not let things rattle me."
He kept his word.
Dylan Harper Delivers in 22 Minutes Off the Bench
In just 22 minutes of action, Harper put up 18 points, six rebounds and four assists. He shot 6-of-9 from the floor, hit two of his three attempts from three and went a perfect 4-for-4 at the free-throw line. For a rookie coming off the bench in an elimination game, that's a performance that holds up against anyone on the court that night.
Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
Harper has been building toward moments like this all season. Across 69 appearances, he averaged 11.8 points, 3.9 assists and 3.4 rebounds and has grown into a reliable two-way contributor as the year has gone on.
He wasn't alone on Thursday. Five Spurs finished in double figures, with Victor Wembanyama leading the charge with 28 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, two assists and two steals.
Stephon Castle added 17 points and nine assists, Devin Vassell chipped in 12 points and two blocks and Julian Champagnie contributed 10 points and six rebounds as San Antonio controlled key stretches throughout the night.
The Spurs now get their Game 7. San Antonio and the Oklahoma City Thunder meet on May 30 at 8 p.m. ET with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line. Harper made it to Saturday for his sister. Now the whole team has a shot at something bigger.
