Why Dylan Harper is confident in Spurs amid 1-0 NBA Finals deficit

It looked like the San Antonio Spurs were going to avoid going down 1-0 in the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks, as they went on a 9-0 run towards the end of the fourth quarter to regain the lead. However, the Knicks punched back, going on an 11-0 run of their own to end the game and seal a 105-95 victory to go up 1-0 in the series.

The Spurs’ offense sputtered towards the end of the game, and all rookie guard Dylan Harper could do was stand on the bench and watch. Head coach Mitch Johnson opted for De’Aaron Fox’s experience over Harper even though the rookie tallied 16 points and eight boards on 6-10 shooting from the field.

Nonetheless, Harper knows that the Spurs aren’t in a bad position whatsoever. Being down 1-0 is not ideal, but it is far from the worst place to be in. In fact, Harper remains confident in the Spurs especially as they continue to trust the process that has gotten them this far to begin with.

“Sometimes it doesn’t go your way. … For us, it’s more about playing the long game and just being consistent in our habits. I think that’s the biggest part. I feel like if we just stay consistent, everything’s going to work out,” Harper said in his postgame presser, via Spurs Nation on X (formerly Twitter).

Spurs guard Dylan Harper, on a Game 1 loss: “Sometimes it doesn’t go your way. … For us, it’s more about playing the long game and just being consistent in our habits. I think that's the biggest part. I feel like if we just stay consistent, everything's going to work out.” pic.twitter.com/17MOmI24bG

— Spurs Nation (@Spurs_Nation) June 4, 2026

Harper is displaying some poise and maturity that’s well beyond his years, and a ton of credit must go to his support system for instilling this kind of composure in him. There is no reason for the Spurs to panic, and despite the team’s youth, they are confident in their ability to bounce back — separating themselves as quite the special unit.

Harper could also find himself in a bigger role as the series progresses, especially if Fox continues to struggle the way he did in Game 1.

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