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After being listed as questionable, the San Antonio Spurs announced that guards De'Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper will be available in Game 5 vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The San Antonio Spurs will look to get back in the win column and host the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 on Tuesday night. The Spurs went into the day with uncertainty on the status of guards De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper.
The NBA’s initial injury report listed De’Aaron Fox as questionable with right ankle soreness, while playoff standout Dylan Harper was also listed as questionable with left knee soreness.
Both players went through pregame warmups. Just minutes before tip-off, San Antonio announced they would be available and in the lineup, per The Athletic’s Jared Weiss.
The San Antonio Spurs have relied heavily on the point guard combination of De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper. Both players have been key assets to the Spurs’ 62-20 regular-season record.
Fox, 28, has been the veteran leading the way at the top of the lineup. In his first full season with the Spurs, Fox has averages of 18.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 6.2 assists on 48.6/33.2/76.0 shooting splits.
This momentum has carried into the postseason for De’Aaron Fox, averaging 18.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 7.7 assists.
As for Dylan Harper, the rookie is beginning to find his stride during the most crucial time of the year. Serving as the Spurs’ backup point guard, he averaged 11.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in the regular season on 50.5/34.3/75.6 shooting splits.
Harper has found his groove in the league, and his averages have improved since the start of the playoffs. Through nine games, the rookie is averaging 13.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists on impressive 55.6/40.0/83.9 shooting splits.
Both players’ initial injury diagnoses indicated they were on the verge of missing their first games of the postseason. The stress for head coach Mitch Johnson and Spurs fans nationwide is now behind them, while both guards are available to play in Game 5.
In Game 4, which saw Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama ejected in the second quarter for an elbow to the head of Timberwolves center Naz Reid, the Spurs couldn’t overcome the absence of their star player. San Antonio would go on to lose the tight-knit outing, 114-109.
Now that the series is tied, 2-2, the series will go back to the Frost Bank Center for Game 5.
San Antonio will be at full potential, as Victor Wembanyama received no fine and no suspension for the flagrant two ejection on Sunday. He, alongside counterpart De’Aaron Fox and rookie Dylan Harper, will be at full force for the Spurs as they look to take back the series lead.
On the flip side, the Minnesota Timberwolves are still competing with the Spurs in the series. The No. 6 Timberwolves are fighting to reach a third-straight Western Conference Finals.
Minnesota has done so without starting guard Donte DiVincenzo, who ruptured his Achilles tendon in Game 4 of Minnesota’s first-round series against the Denver Nuggets.
Home-court advantage hasn’t been a factor in Spurs vs. Timberwolves, as each trip has been split, with both teams winning. San Antonio will be at full strength as it looks to take back the series lead.
Toran Flores is a sports reporter located in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He's covered news in the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, and college sports. His work has been featured on platforms like FanSided, Athlon Sports, The Sporting News, Lakers All Day Everyday, and others. In his free time, Toran enjoys spending time with family and friends, staying active, and traveling. More about Toran Flores
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