# Harper and Castle have Breakout Playoff Performances as Spurs Take 2-1 Series Lead in Portland

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/small-market-bias-a-san-antonio-spurs-podcast-6421184/harper-and-castle-have-breakout-playoff-performances-as-spurs-take-2-1-series-lead-in-portland
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/small-market-bias-a-san-antonio-spurs-podcast-6421184/harper-and-castle-have-breakout-playoff-performances-as-spurs-take-2-1-series-lead-in-portland.md
Podcast: [Small Market Bias: A San Antonio Spurs Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/small-market-bias-a-san-antonio-spurs-podcast-6421184)
Published: 2026-04-25T07:39:00+00:00
Episode link: https://bleav.com/shows/small-market-bias-a-san-antonio-spurs/episodes/harper-and-castle-have-breakout-playoff-performances-as-spurs-take-2-1-series-lead-in-portland/
Audio file: https://pscrb.fm/rss/p/mgln.ai/e/1385/injector.simplecastaudio.com/74f1c02d-bb79-492e-980f-d3d7e98da794/episodes/2e570f86-6daa-4129-8392-2e6bf861368d/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=74f1c02d-bb79-492e-980f-d3d7e98da794&awEpisodeId=2e570f86-6daa-4129-8392-2e6bf861368d&feed=O4_6mV00
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Duration seconds: 1495

## Resource

The San Antonio Spurs overcame a 15-point deficit in Portland to take a 2-1 series lead without Victor Wembanyama. The victory was driven by explosive second-half performances from rookie Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle.

## Highlights
- Main idea: Young guards Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle provided the offensive engine during a critical second-half surge
- Practical takeaway: The Spurs' defensive adjustments, specifically using Carter Bryant in a small-ball five role, stifled Portland's interior scoring
- Failure mode: Portland's offensive efficiency collapsed in the second half, dropping from 48% to 24% from three-point range
- Main idea: Dylan Harper demonstrated elite efficiency, shooting 9-of-12 from the field while contributing 10 rebounds
- Key uncertainty: The Spurs' tactical approach for Game 4 depends heavily on Victor Wembanyama's status regarding concussion protocols

## Topics

San Antonio Spurs, Portland Trail Blazers, Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle, NBA Playoffs, Victor Wembanyama, NBA Defense, Basketball Analytics

## Chapters
- 1:00 — Game Context: Spurs on the Road: An overview of the early game flow and the challenge of playing without Wembanyama.
- 2:50 — Defensive Stand and Momentum Shifts: Analysis of the Spurs' defensive run that halted Portland's momentum.
- 4:40 — Stephon Castle's Aggression: How Castle exploited Portland's defensive coverage to attack the rim.
- 6:30 — Dylan Harper's Scoring Explosion: Breaking down Harper's 27-point performance and his second-half dominance.
- 8:20 — Efficiency and Rebounding: A look at Harper's high-efficiency shooting and impact on the boards.
- 13:50 — The Impact of Small-Ball Five: How Carter Bryant's defensive versatility helped anchor the Spurs' lineup.
- 21:20 — Portland's Shooting Collapse: Examining the significant drop in Blazers' perimeter shooting during the second half.

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