Dylan Harper added to injury report ahead of Game 5 against Timberwolves

The Spurs released an updated injury report, labeling Dylan Harper as QUESTIONABLE for Game 5 tonight against the Timberwolves. Harper fell hard on his leg during a stellar 24-point performance and is now battling left knee soreness, according to the team.

De'Aaron Fox was already on the report with left ankle soreness after one of Minnesota's players fell on his leg in the same contest Harper was compromised in. With the series tied 2-2, San Antonio would be at a huge disadvantage without two of their lead ball handlers. If the Spurs are forced to play without them, the depth they've been applauded for all season will truly be tested.

Jordan McLaughlin must be ready to contribute for the Spurs

Swipa is averaging 18.7 points and 5.6 steals per game on 44% shooting, and Harp is giving the Timberwolves 13.8 on 56%. Nobody is expecting McLaughlin to come in and provide the same production, but he doesn't have to.

The seven-year veteran has crafted a long career for himself by staying ready, being a good teammate, and playing within himself. It also doesn't hurt that he's a career nearly 38% three-point shooter, and this season, he's elevated that number to 42.5%. San Antonio hasn't shot the ball as well as they normally do, and the looks have been available.

A player with McLaughlin's experience could certainly end up knocking down some of those shots. He's only 5'11", so he would be a target defensively to some degree, but the Spurs would be ready for that. There is enough athleticism, size, and length at every other position to help the ex-Timberwolves guard whenever he gets beaten on the perimeter or taken inside.

J. Mac appeared in 44 games for San Antonio this season. He's been reliable before, and there's no reason to believe he can't hold down the fort for a game now. Besides, Minnesota will have their hands full with Victor Wembanyama's revenge game anyway.

Wembanyama will be in seek-and-destroy mode

By now, everyone is well-versed in the events of "Elbow Gate." Wemby isn't happy about how it all went down. His ejection cost the Spurs a victory they likely would have secured with relative ease had he remained in the game. San Antonio had yet to find their touch at the time, but they were getting open looks while stifling the Timberwolves' offense. It was only a matter of time.

But he did get ejected. The Spurs did lose. And someone is going to have to pay for that. Devin Vassell confirmed the Alien's mindset to reporters after shootaround, and this is a tight-knit group, so his teammates will have his back. They'll need to stay together because Minny could seek some sort of revenge.

It won't be much different from how they've already been playing, though. The Timberwolves get overly physical because they can't compete otherwise. The skill level isn't there. So, whether Fox and Harper are there or not, they'd better buckle up because the Frost Bank Center is going to be hostile, and Wembanyama is going to give them a chilling welcome back.

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