The San Antonio Spurs’ promising start to the season took a major hit Sunday as rookie guard Dylan Harper exited their 130-118 defeat to the Phoenix Suns with a left calf injury. Harper went down midway through the second quarter after contesting a layup and immediately limped off the floor.
The 19-year-old returned to the bench in the second half wearing a walking boot and later departed the arena on crutches. Head coach Mitch Johnson confirmed postgame that the injury appeared to involve Harper’s calf but said no official timetable had been set.
Dylan Harper, the No. 2 overall pick in June’s NBA Draft, had been a key contributor during San Antonio’s 5-0 start. Averaging 14.4 points, 4.6 assists, and 4.6 rebounds, he quickly established himself as the team’s primary playmaker off the bench. Before leaving Sunday’s contest, he scored 12 points in just 11 minutes on 5-of-8 shooting.
The setback comes at a difficult time for the Spurs, who are already dealing with multiple absences. Veteran guard De’Aaron Fox has yet to return from a preseason hamstring strain, while Jeremy Sochan (wrist), Kelly Olynyk (heel), and Lindy Waters III (eye procedure) remain sidelined. Backup center Luke Kornet has also missed three straight games with an ankle sprain.
Mitch Johnson expressed cautious optimism that reinforcements could arrive soon, noting the team has a short break before facing Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday. “Everyone is trending the right way,” Johnson said. “Guys are getting closer and closer, so we’ll see how it breaks in the next couple of days.”
Despite the injuries, San Antonio had entered the night riding its best-ever start at 5-0. That momentum ended against Phoenix, where the Spurs surrendered 48 first-half points before Harper’s exit. The Suns capitalized late to hand San Antonio its first loss of the campaign.
Teammate Victor Wembanyama voiced support for Dylan Harper afterward, praising the rookie’s early-season impact. “We’ve seen great things from him, it’s been hard to believe how good he’s played,” Wembanyama said. “But it happens. We have to be able to deal with injuries. At the same time, we’re going to get some guys back.”
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