The San Antonio Spurs punched their ticket to the Western Conference Finals on Friday night after a 139-109 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 6 at Target Center, closing the series 4-2. Rookie guard Dylan Harper added 15 points off the bench as the Spurs advanced to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 on Monday.
Harper emphasized how the moment aligned with his expectations for the season while reflecting on the broader narrative around his role and team trajectory.
“Great. I think this is, like, it’s kind of going to be the standard. I mean, after the season’s over. But I think just being in a position I’m in, like, all year it was like, did he get drafted to the wrong spot, this, that, and the third. And it was like, I never, like, thought about that because just I kind of knew how good we were and I knew the impact that everyone brought to the table and I knew that we can do things like this. So, I mean, it’s great.”
He also addressed how the playoff run has shaped his understanding of the game and his comfort level under postseason pressure against teams like the Timberwolves and stars such as Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“I feel pretty experienced. I feel kind of comfortable and confident out there, but I think what we’re walking into on Monday, I think that’s a different animal. That’s what I mean. The experience is great for all of us, but just going out there with the mindset of we just got to keep on keeping our foot on the gas no matter what.”
Harper spoke about his evolving role and learning from veteran presence in the locker room, while also referencing guidance that helped him adjust to a bench role.
“I mean, I think Keldon’s a six-man. I think I’m just another guy on the bench. A six-man. I mean, but I think me, just him kind of guiding me, I think early on, he would ask me questions just to pick my brain, just to see what kind of I was thinking about just the team and the lineup. And I think everything he’s told me has been straight on, point fault, straight on. I think he’s just kind of installed little things in my head that will just help me in the future. And I think that he’s done a great job of just kind of calming me down and telling me, like, just play your game out there, just be you.”
On his aggressiveness and shared identity with teammates such as De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, Harper described the team’s approach on both ends of the floor.
“I mean, yeah, I think that’s me and Steph’s best quality, I think being relentless. I think we try to put our imprint in the game right out the gate. He does a great job doing that. And I think when I come in the game, I kind of try to put that imprint and just be that attack dog that Mitch kind of called us. So, I mean. I think me and him, Fox, we do a great job of just going out there and I think setting the tone for the guards.”
Harper also described the moment the game slipped away from Minnesota, after a fourth-quarter exchange involving Anthony Edwards, who briefly acknowledged the Spurs’ lead from the bench area.
“Yeah, yeah, definitely. I mean, he dabbed himself. I think just it was over. I don’t got much to say. I think he kind of knew what it was. We kind of knew what it was. I think it was just game towards the end of the game.”
As the Spurs turned their focus toward Oklahoma City, Harper pointed to the importance of maintaining intensity heading into the next series.
“I mean, they fought back. We was up big. They fought back. And coming out the third quarter, we just emphasized on just keep going and going and going. I think that helped us a lot. And I think once he kind of came to add this up and we kind of saw the atmosphere and what was going on, it was more of like, all right, we’re going to OKC on Monday.”
