The Spurs will have Victor Wembanyama back for a pivotal Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves after he avoided suspension for a Game 4 flagrant foul, but the Spurs’ guard rotation could be shorthanded. De’Aaron Fox was already listed as questionable on yesterday’s injury report with a sore ankle after Ayo Dosunmo rolled up on his legs while diving for a loose ball in the second half of Game 4, which Fox briefly left before returning, and today, Dylan Harper has been listed as questionable with a sore knee.
The soreness is possibly a result of a play from late in the fourth quarter when — guess who? — Dosunmu grabbed him from behind on an offensive rebound. Harper then fell backwards, with his left leg folding underneath him. He remained down for a few seconds, rubbing his knee before getting back up. A foul was called on Dosunmu on the play. (None if this is to say Dosunmu is a dirty player. There’s a bit extra on tug backwards there, but he was not trying to bring Harper down, tried to catch him as he went down, and he checked on him after it happened.)
While both players were seen practicing today, Fox is still a game-time decision while Harper was downgraded to questionable. Beyond Wemby, guard play has been the Spurs’ biggest advantage in this round, and it will be a tall task if Stephon Castle has to carry the load by himself. If one but especially both miss the game, the Spurs may need to give former Timberwolf Jordan McLaughlin some minutes, who to his credit has always been ready when called upon and can give them some solid minutes in smaller doses.
The good news is players being listed as questionable on game day has not always meant they will not play, so at this point there is little reason to panic. Still, both players have been vital to the Spurs postseason success so far. Harper has averaged 15.3 points and almost 3 assists off the bench for the Spurs in this series, while Fox has struggled with his shooting at times but has still hit some big, timely shots when needed, averaging 16.8 points and 4 assists.
Tip-off is at 7:00 PM CT on NBC and Peacock. This series is tied at 2-2 and will return to Minnesota on Friday for Game 6.
