Dylan Harper left tonight’s game after grabbing his right “hamstring”
The concern would be for a strain. Typical healing time
Tightness: day to day Grade I: 1-2 weeks Grade II: 3-6 weeks
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San Antonio Spurs rookie Dylan Harper controls the ball during his historic playoff performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1.
The San Antonio Spurs may already have their clearest early answer on Dylan Harper’s injury and it didn’t come from the team.
Shortly after Harper exited Game 2 of the Western Conference finals with a right leg injury, sports physical therapist Dr. Evan Jeffries provided a real-time assessment that could shape expectations moving forward.
“Dylan Harper left tonight’s game after grabbing his right ‘hamstring,’” Jeffries wrote on X. “The concern would be for a strain.”
The Spurs ruled Harper out for the remainder of the game with a right leg injury but have not confirmed the exact diagnosis. Still, Jeffries’ observation aligns with a common red flag — a player immediately reaching for the back of the leg, often signaling a soft-tissue issue.
Jeffries outlined a range of recovery timelines depending on severity:
Those timelines carry added weight in the Western Conference finals, where games are played every other day. Even a minor strain could force Harper to miss multiple games in a tightly scheduled series, while a more significant injury could extend well beyond it.
Dylan Harper left tonight’s game after grabbing his right “hamstring”
The concern would be for a strain. Typical healing time
Tightness: day to day Grade I: 1-2 weeks Grade II: 3-6 weeks
Before exiting, Harper had 12 points and three assists in 25 minutes, continuing his steady production in a critical role.
His absence compounds an already difficult situation for San Antonio, which is still monitoring All-Star guard De’Aaron Fox due to an ankle injury.
With both Harper and Fox sidelined, the Spurs suddenly find themselves short-handed at point guard — a position central to controlling pace and initiating offense against a high-pressure Oklahoma City defense.
That leaves Stephon Castle — the reigning Rookie of the Year — in line for a significantly larger workload.
Castle has already established himself as a key piece in San Antonio’s backcourt following his award-winning debut season, but the injuries now elevate his responsibilities to a primary playmaking role.
He is expected to handle extended minutes as the lead guard, tasked with orchestrating the offense, managing tempo and defending Oklahoma City’s perimeter threats.
While Castle brings experience and composure, the sudden increase in responsibility comes at a critical juncture in the series.
The Spurs are expected to conduct further evaluation on Harper, but Jeffries’ early analysis provides a framework for what could come next.
Hamstring injuries are notoriously unpredictable, and with limited recovery time between games, teams often proceed cautiously to avoid aggravation.
For San Antonio, the timing of Harper’s injury adds another layer of uncertainty to an already evolving series.
And as Jeffries’ breakdown suggests, the difference between tightness and a true strain could ultimately determine whether Harper returns quickly — or whether the Spurs must continue their playoff push without one of their emerging backcourt contributors.
Alder Almo is a veteran NBA reporter for Heavy.com, covering the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors. He brings over 20 years of experience across local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Originally from the Philippines, he is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo
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