PORTLAND, Ore. -- San Antonio Spurs rookie Dylan Harper, the No. 2 overall pick of this year's NBA draft, made his return Wednesday at Portland after missing 10 games because of a strained left calf.
Harper had seven points, three rebounds and two assists in the Spurs' 115-102 win over the Trail Blazers to stay in position to win their NBA Cup group.
"I thought he was great," coach Mitch Johnson said afterward. "We needed all 16 and a half minutes of his, and it was just good to see him back on the court. It's the kid's sixth game. He's been out for almost a month. He was great."
During San Antonio's first loss of the season Nov. 2 at Phoenix, Harper suffered the calf injury defending a Nick Richards dunk. A subsequent MRI revealed the strain.
Harper, 19, averaged 14 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists over his first six games, shooting 50% from the field and 35.7% from 3-point range. He played at least 22 minutes in all five games before the injury, and Johnson attributed his playing time Wednesday to Harper's time on the sidelines.
"He was fried in 16 minutes," Johnson joked, "so I think yes, that's a part of the process."
This was the first time the Spurs had starting point guard De'Aaron Fox and Harper available in the same game after Fox missed the start of the season due to a hamstring injury. In order to limit Harper's minutes, the two playmakers shared the court for just 1:26 during the fourth quarter, alternating at the point otherwise.
As he ramps up, Harper said he looks forward to teaming up with Fox "a lot."
"Playing with someone with such high IQ," he said. "You play the same position, so I think we both understand where each other's going to be and everyone else. Just playing with him on the floor, I think is going to be a matchup nightmare for whoever."
French phenom Victor Wembanyama (calf) and guard Stephon Castle (hip flexor strain), San Antonio's lottery picks the past two years, remain out but are expected to be re-evaluated soon to begin the process for their respective returns.