Dylan Harper could afford to joke about his tough night from three because the San Antonio Spurs still left Madison Square Garden with the result they needed.
The rookie guard struggled badly from deep in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, finishing 1-for-8 from beyond the arc.
But the Spurs still edged the New York Knicks 115-111 on Monday to pull back to 2-1 in the series.
Dylan Harper reacts to three-point struggles after Spurs Game 3 win
Oh No He Didn’t shared Harper’s reaction after his difficult shooting night against the Knicks.
“I’m never gonna shoot that again…they all felt good coming out of my hands. They just didn’t go in today.”
For a 19-year-old rookie taking on major Finals minutes, the transparency stood out. Harper did not blame the looks. He said the shots felt right, they just did not fall.
Dylan Harper still gave Spurs needed NBA Finals minutes
Despite the cold shooting, Harper contributed 13 points, nine rebounds and four assists in 32 minutes off the bench.
He kept attacking, got to the line and helped San Antonio survive a charged MSG atmosphere.
Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 32 points, while Stephon Castle added 23. For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson scored 32 and OG Anunoby had 28.
Spurs vs Knicks Game 4 keeps series pressure high
The win shifted the tone of the Finals. New York still leads 2-1, but San Antonio avoided falling into a 3-0 hole.
Game 4 is set for Wednesday, June 10, at 8:30 p.m. ET, back at Madison Square Garden.
Harper will not stop shooting, and the Spurs do not want him to. The bigger question is whether those same looks start dropping as the series tightens again.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
