Dylan Harper gave the Spurs exactly the kind of night that can make their new backcourt click.
In San Antonio’s win over the Dallas Mavericks, Harper turned in his best showing of the season, finishing with 22 points while hitting 50% of his shots and knocking down three of his eight attempts from deep. That long-range efficiency matters just as much as the points themselves, because the Spurs’ three-guard setup has a much different ceiling when Harper is stretching the floor.
His first two games this season hinted at what he can do, but they also showed the missing piece. Harper flashed his ability to knife into the lane and finish over defenders, but his outside shot wasn’t there. He went just 1-for-6 from three in the Spurs’ games against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets.
Against Dallas, though, he paired that rim pressure with real production from beyond the arc. That’s the version San Antonio needs if it wants the guard trio of Harper, De'Aaron Fox, and Stephon Castle to work at full speed.
Fox has already been clear about why the perimeter shooting matters so much for this group.
"It's going to be huge," Fox told Matt Guzman. "Obviously, we have a talented group, especially in the backcourt.
When we're making shots, it allows other guys to get downhill. We can spread the defense out."
That’s the whole equation for San Antonio. Fox, Harper, and Castle all have the kind of quickness and handle that can rip a defense apart, but none of that goes as far if opponents can simply crowd the lane and wait them out. The shot has to be respected first.
Saturday’s game was the first time all three guards showed that kind of balance from deep in the same night. Fox hit 50% of his three-point looks, while Harper and Castle each went 3-for-8. Even better for the Spurs, a lot of those makes came off the catch, exactly the kind of shots that keep the floor open and make the drives more dangerous.
For Harper, there’s a second layer to all of this. His shooting isn’t just important to the Spurs’ lineup design; it’s central to the kind of season he’s expected to have individually. After his playoff performance, there’s real expectation that he can make an All-Star leap in his second year.
That kind of rise starts with a dependable jumper. Defenses are going to try to keep him out of the paint over the course of the season, and he’ll need a perimeter answer when the interior isn’t there.
Three games into the 2026-27 campaign, the Spurs are still figuring things out on offense. But if Harper, Fox, and Castle can keep stacking shooting nights like the one they had against Dallas, that backcourt is going to give the league plenty to think about.
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Lost in the final score was the debut of Tarris Reed, who got into the game for six minutes and managed two points and three rebounds. It was a small sample, but the opportunity itself mattered, especially for a team still sorting out the center rotation around Wembanyama and trying to find a reliable backup option who can hold the fort when he sits. [Read more 🡒]
Stephon Castle May Have Given Spurs Lineup Exactly What It Needed
The Spurs finally got into the win column with a 122-106 result over the Mavericks, and Stephon Castle was a big reason the night looked so much smoother. He scored 19 points, knocked down three triples and handed out eight assists, a mix of shot-making and playmaking that gave San Antonio a more dynamic feel on offense.
Castles versatility stood out because it helped the Spurs keep Dallas from settling in defensively and gave the group a cleaner rhythm throughout the game. For a team still sorting out its best combinations early in the season, that kind of two-way offensive blend can be the difference between looking stuck and looking like a lineup worth sticking with. [Read more 🡒]
Tarris Reed Jr. May Force His Way Into Spurs Minutes Fast
Tarris Reed Jr. arrived in San Antonio with a clear purpose, and the preseason only sharpened that idea. The rookie big man averaged 9.2 rebounds in 17 minutes per game, giving the Spurs an early look at the kind of interior presence they were targeting when they brought him in on draft night to help fill the need for a third center.
What makes Reed interesting is how quickly he could become more than an insurance option. His value starts on the glass, especially offensively, where his energy and positioning can swing possessions, and his role could expand depending on the health of the other centers ahead of him. For a Spurs team still sorting out its frontcourt depth, Reed has already done enough to make himself hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]