Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox ruled out of West finals opener with ankle injury
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San Antonio Spurs starting guard De’Aaron Fox will not play in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night because of a right ankle sprain, the team announced.
Fox hurt the ankle during Game 4 of the conference semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves when guard Ayo Dosunmu landed on him while chasing a loose ball. Although Fox completed that contest and appeared in Games 5 and 6 as San Antonio closed out the series, the injury lingered.
“It’s one of those deals where it’s not going away for as long as we’re playing, I don’t believe,” head coach Mitch Johnson said earlier Monday.
The nine-year veteran tested the ankle during the morning shootaround and again about 90 minutes before tipoff in Oklahoma City but was ultimately ruled out. Fox is averaging 18.8 points, 5.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds this postseason after posting 18.6 points, 6.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds during the regular schedule. He started 72 games and had not missed a game since March 25; the Spurs are 7-3 this season without him.
Center Luke Kornet, previously listed as questionable with a left foot injury, is available for San Antonio.
The Thunder welcomed back forward Jalen Williams, who sat out the previous six games with a left hamstring strain.
Source: ESPN
