After blowing a Finals-record 29-point lead in Game 4, the San Antonio Spurs face a must-win Game 5 at home. League insiders closely watching the series are calling for a larger role for rookie guard Dylan Harper against the New York Knicks.

Multiple observers from opposing teams told ESPN that Harper should be a bigger part of San Antonio's game plan going forward, with one Western Conference executive advocating for Harper to enter the starting lineup for just the seventh time in his professional career.

"He's their second-best player," said the executive. "It's incredible how good he's become so quickly."

Harper has come off the bench throughout the Finals, posting averages of 16.3 points and 6.8 rebounds in the series. He scored 21 points on 8-for-12 shooting across 32 minutes in Game 4 but was largely kept out of late-game situations as De'Aaron Fox controlled the ball down the stretch.

"This is going to be a real test of the Spurs' resolve," said a Western Conference scout. "They've shown they've got resilience, and they have a lot of emotional maturity ... they've shown they can get off the mat. But was that game the final straw?"

Several sources expect San Antonio to win Game 5 and push the series back to Madison Square Garden. Victor Wembanyama's stamina will also be closely watched after he logged 44 minutes in Game 4 and showed visible fatigue late. The two-day rest before Game 5 may prove critical to his recovery.