Spurs Outlast Mavericks in rare Double Buzzer-Beater Game

This highly anticipated matchup between two of the top five picks of the NBA draft, the Spurs’ #2 Draft pick Dylan Harper and was set to take on the Jazz #5 draft pick Ace Bailey, however Bailey has yet to make his Summer League debut and this would be only Harper’s second game of the NBA Summer League.

By Cameron Buford with Voice of the Fans

This highly anticipated matchup between two of the top five picks of the NBA draft, the Spurs’ #2 Draft pick Dylan Harper and was set to take on the Jazz #5 draft pick Ace Bailey, however Bailey has yet to make his Summer League debut and this would be only Harper’s second game of the NBA Summer League.

After missing the Spurs’ initial Summer League game, Harper responded with 16 points, on five of twelve shooting from the floor. He shot zero from four from deep, with six rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a blocked shot in his initial Summer League game against the Mavericks.

The Jazz second year forward Kyle Filipowski got off to a blistering start of their Summer League by recording a game high 32 points on 12 for 17 shooting from the floor, against the Charlotte Hornets.

It should be clear to anyone watching that Dylan Harper won’t have any issue getting into the paint at this level. Not only does he have exquisite ball-handling skills, but his shiftiness is complemented by his ability to explode quickly to the hoop.

The Jazz amassed an 11-point lead midway through the third quarter, in large part due to holding the Spurs to 28.9% shooting from the field and 30.4% from deep. Even though the Spurs had a slim lead in rebounds 27-16, and assists 14-11. The Spurs suddenly went on a 12-0 run to pull within two points, before David Jones-Garica tied the game up with a seven-foot jumper.

Jones-Garcia has been making the coach’s decision difficult for the Spurs. Not only has he frustrated his opponents with his defense, he’s leading the Spurs during their initial week of the Las Vegas Summer League games. Jones-Garcia has scored over 20 points in each of the games he’s played in. He also recorded six, five, and four rebounds in those same games. Jones-Garcia led all Spurs with 23 points, four rebounds, three assists, and one steal against the Jazz.

On the flip side, Filipowski has looked comfortable in this matchup. He knocked down three three-pointers early and never cooled off. His 30 points led the Jazz in scoring in this game, and his drive to the basket with 10 seconds on the game clock gave them the go-ahead score. After a miss, Filipowski grabs a rebound and dunks it, with authority, on two Spurs to tie the game up, again, with 1.9 remaining in overtime.

That was just enough time for the Spurs to draw up a game winning play to preserve their undefeated record.

“We drew up a play. The first look was for Carter (Bryant) for a lob. The second was for Dylan (Harper), coming off a pin down. I told Harrison before the play, “”If it’s too crowded, find me in the corner and I’ll get open,”” Spurs Riley Minix said humbly about his game winning shot. “It was a little crowded, nothing was open and he found me. I put a shot up and it went in.”

The 3-0 Spurs are scheduled to play the 3-0 Hornets on Thursday at 4:00 pm PST, in a matchup of two of the four remaining undefeated teams in this Summer League tournament. The Jazz are still in search of their first win of the Summer League and will face the Washington Wizards on Wednesday afternoon. Please share your thoughts on this topic with me on X at https://x.com/whatsgoodnsport