San Antonio

Spurs

Initially listed as questionable for Game 5, Kornet logged just four minutes in Wednesday’s Game 4 defeat. While he’s likely to take on a similar workload with the Spurs’ season on the line, the veteran center will be able to provide some cover for Victor Wembanyama.

Kornet, who logged four minutes off the bench in Wednesday’s Game 4 defeat, is dealing with an illness. His potential absence from Game 5 would not significantly affect the Spurs’ rotation, given his limited playing time. It’s possible that Carter Bryant would get a few more minutes off the bench, especially if the Spurs looked to keep Victor Wembanyama’s playing time in check after he logged 44 minutes in Game 4. However, given what’s on the line, it’s unlikely that Wemby would play more than 40 minutes once again.

Vassell had the hot hand for the Spurs on Wednesday, as he led the team in three-pointers. Yet, he only scored three points in the second half when New York outscored San Antonio 58-30 to complete a 29-point comeback win. Regardless, he finished as one of the team’s best scorers and also made contributions as a passer. Still, Vassell and the Spurs will need to have short memories and get back on track in Game 5 on Saturday. Otherwise, their season could end.

Harper logged another impactful performance on San Antonio’s bench in Game 4. He led the team with a plus-12 rating and finished as one of two Spurs players with 20 or more points. The rookie recorded double-digit points in six consecutive playoff games at the conclusion of Wednesday’s game. He continues to log heavy minutes and will likely see another heavy workload on Saturday.

Wemby logged 44 minutes on Wednesday and put forth a strong effort. Yet, he shot inefficiently both inside and outside the arc, and couldn’t stop the bleeding well enough to prevent the Knicks from completing nearly a 30-point comeback. The Defensive Player of the Year did control the paint on that end of the floor while performing well on the glass — well enough to earn his second double-double of the series. San Antonio will likely need even more production from him on Saturday if it wants to keep its season alive.

When asked about dealing with the pressure of being down 0-2, Wembanyama said that “this is what he’s built for.” He talked the talked and then walked the walk. It was exactly the type of performance the Spurs needed out of their superstar after digging themselves a big hole by dropping the first two games at home. They’ve won on the road throughout the postseason, including Game 7 against the defending champions in the series prior to this one. They did it again, and they’ll need to win at least one more in New York in order to win the series. The Spurs could even the series and reclaim homecourt advantage with a win in Game 4 on Thursday.

After seemingly figuring things out by scoring 20 points in Game 2 following a rough Game 1 and subpar series against the Thunder, Fox’s struggles returned in this game. However, he was able to make some plays down the stretch, including a mid-range jumper with 12 seconds left to give the Spurs a five-point lead. They were able to hold on and get their first win of the series. Fox needs to be much better than he has been, so hopefully the 2023 Clutch Player of the Year hitting a big shot late will provide him some momentum moving forward.

The rookie has been incredible throughout the postseason, though he wasn’t able to match his shooting efficiency in this game. It was a rough shooting night for Harper, but that didn’t prevent the Spurs from securing their first win of the series. He’s been important to the team’s success, which isn’t common for a 20-year-old in the NBA Finals. The volume will increase as he ages, which should lead to some incredible fantasy seasons. For now, he’ll look to make an impact in his role as the series continues on Thursday.

In just his second season, Castle has been so impressive, and this was one of his best performances of his first postseason. He seemingly injured his ankle in Game 2, but it was never expected to alter his status for this game, and it certainly didn’t hinder his performance. Castle had a strong outing, and he was able to seal the game with a pair of free throws to give the Spurs a four-point lead late. If the Spurs want to even the series in Game 4 on Thursday, Castle will need to continue to play at this level.

Castle appeared to injure his right leg during the second half of Game 2 on Friday. While he did exit the game shortly after the tweak, the second-year guard was back on the court in the fourth quarter as the Spurs rallied. Based on Castle’s comments on Sunday, he should be a full go for Game 3 as the Spurs look to cut the Knicks’ 2-0 lead in half. “It’s been feeling good,” Castle said. “It feels a lot better than I thought it would initially. Obviously, I had some adrenaline running, kind of once I settled down, I started to feel it. Waking up the next day, actually felt really good.” Castle was not listed on the injury report released by the Spurs on Sunday afternoon, so he’ll take on his usual starting role.