Spurs’ Dylan Harper nears top 10 in NBA rookie playoff scoring list

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – JUNE 05: Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots the ball against Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks during the fourth quarter in Game Two of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 05, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.

Ronald Cortes / Getty Images / AFP

MANILA, Philippines — Despite going down 0-2 in the NBA Finals, the San Antonio Spurs have a silver lining thus far in young gun Dylan Harper.

Harper is close to cracking the top 10 in scoring for a rookie in a single NBA playoff run, as his 15 points in a narrow 104-105 loss to the New York Knicks in Game 2 Saturday gave him 266 points — and counting — this postseason.

The Filipino-American standout finished Game 2 with 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting off the bench, to go with six rebounds, three assists and a steal in 32 minutes and 16 seconds of play.

His 266 points so far has put him just two points behind Donovan Mitchell, who had 268 points for the Utah Jazz in his rookie year.

Mitchell is No. 10 in the rookie scoring list in a single postseason run.

If he cracks the top 10, Harper will be the only player logging less than 30 minutes a game in the list.

No. 9 on the list is the Los Angeles Lakers legend Jerry West, who had 275 points in his freshman year in the 1960-61 season.

The 20-year-old floor general from Rutgers University is already the San Antonio Spurs’ points leader for a rookie in the postseason, passing David Robinson, who had 243 points in his rookie year back in the 1989-90 season.

The rookie with the most points in a single postseason is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who had 352 points.

The Spurs are in a tough position after losing both home games in the finals. No team in NBA history has won the championship after dropping the first two games at home.

Harper’s fellow Fil-Am player, Jordan Clarkson, did not see action for the Knicks in Game 2.

The crucial Game 3 will be on Tuesday (Manila time), but this time, it will be at the Madison Square Garden in New York City.