FOX LEADS SPURS TO WIN IN SEASON DEBUT; FLAGG REACTS TO MAVS’ START; EXUM AWAITS KNEE REVIEW; EASON SPEAKS ON FAMILY LOSS
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San Antonio, TX — De’Aaron Fox returned to the court Saturday night and delivered 24 points, three rebounds and three assists in 31 minutes, closing the Spurs’ victory over the Pelicans with a late floater. It was the 26-year-old guard’s first appearance in eight months after surgery on a torn tendon in his left pinky finger and a subsequent right hamstring issue.
“I’m good at basketball,” Fox said. “You can still have rust and be able to do that.”
San Antonio acquired Fox in February with hopes of a playoff push, but he opted for season-ending surgery on March 12. The organization kept him sidelined through the early portion of this season to ensure a full recovery. “They want to protect the asset and make sure the asset is ready,” Fox noted.
Mavericks
Rookie forward Cooper Flagg voiced displeasure over Dallas’ slow start after Wednesday’s loss to New Orleans, yet he welcomed the club’s first road win Saturday in Washington. Head coach Jason Kidd said the 19-year-old is learning to navigate an 82-game schedule. “It’s not high school. It’s not college,” Kidd said. “You lose more than six games. You have to adjust and understand that you’re going to lose, but you learn from losing each time you take the floor.”
Dante Exum
Kidd also told reporters Saturday that guard Dante Exum is undergoing reevaluation on the right knee injury that has prevented him from practicing since early training camp. Exum remains listed as out for injury management.
Rockets
Houston forward Tari Eason described the past 12 months as “the toughest year of my life” while speaking with The Houston Chronicle. His father disappeared and was later found deceased in March. “I try to just keep his name alive, keep his spirit alive,” Eason said. “That’s all I can do, is hold it down for my little brothers and little sister.”
Source: Hoops Rumors
