Spurs' Dylan Harper exits with left thumb injury against Nuggets

The guard suffered the injury in the third quarter and did not return to the game.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 2:49am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting depicting a basketball player's jump shot or drive to the hoop, broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric planes in a vibrant color palette of silver, black, white, navy, gold, and light blue.An artistic rendering of the moment Dylan Harper's left thumb injury occurred, capturing the fragmented, chaotic nature of the incident through Cubist abstraction.Denver Today

San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper left Sunday's game against the Denver Nuggets in the third quarter due to a left thumb injury. Harper played 18 minutes off the bench, scoring 9 points with 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal, before being replaced by Stephon Castle with 2:33 remaining in the period. The team later announced that Harper would not return to the game.

Why it matters

Harper is a key reserve for the Spurs, providing scoring punch and playmaking off the bench. Any extended absence due to the thumb injury could be a significant blow to San Antonio's rotation and depth as they battle for playoff positioning in the Western Conference.

The details

The details surrounding Harper's injury are unclear, as there has been no mention of when or how the incident occurred. The Spurs simply stated that Harper suffered a left thumb injury and would not return to the game.

  • Harper was replaced by Stephon Castle with 2:33 left in the third quarter.

The players

Dylan Harper

A guard for the San Antonio Spurs who was forced to leave Sunday's game against the Denver Nuggets due to a left thumb injury.

Stephon Castle

A Spurs player who replaced Harper in the lineup after he suffered the thumb injury.

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What they’re saying

“Dylan Harper is out for the rest of the game with a left thumb injury, per Spurs.”

— Jared Weiss, NBA Reporter

What’s next

The Spurs will provide an update on the severity of Harper's thumb injury and his timeline for return in the coming days.

The takeaway

Injuries to key role players can have a significant impact on a team's playoff push, and the Spurs will need to find a way to weather the absence of Harper if the thumb injury proves to be serious. The team's depth and ability to adjust their rotation will be tested in the coming games.