Sacramento Kings Star De'Aaron Fox Suffers Injury, Doubtful For Game 5 Against Warriors
On April 23, 2023, Sacramento Kings star point guard De'Aaron Fox suffered a somewhat serious injury to his shooting hand in a heartbreaking 126-125 loss to the Golden State Warriors in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series. The injury occurred in the fourth quarter.
Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the fracture is to the tip of his left index finger. He's considered doubtful for Game 5 on Wednesday but hasn't been ruled out.
The news of Fox's injury is devastating for the Sacramento Kings, who have been relying heavily on him this season and in the playoffs. Fox had a career year, averaging 25 points, 6.1 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.1 steals during the regular season. He made his first All-Star team at age 25 and was the inaugural winner of the NBA's Clutch Player of the Year Award by an overwhelming voting tally. He is the team's leading scorer and playmaker, and his absence will be felt on both ends of the floor. Fox is known for his fourth-quarter heroics.
Fox has upped his production in the postseason. In four games, he's averaged 31.5 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds while leading the Kings to a 2-2 tie against the reigning champion Warriors in their first postseason appearance since 2006.
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Fox scored 38 points in Game 4, including 12 in the fourth. He hit a ridiculous pull-up three to cut Golden State's lead to a single point in the game's final 30 seconds. The shot was that much more impressive considering Fox presumably already sustained the injury. The Kings had an opportunity to win the game after Stephen Curry called a timeout when the Warriors didn't have any remaining. Down 126-121, Malik Monk sank the technical free throw before Fox hit the aforementioned circus three. Down one point, the Kings played great defense and forced the Warriors into a contested shot. With 10 seconds on the clock, Sacramento had a chance to go up 3-1 in the series. However, Fox drove to the rim and dished it out to Harrison Barnes for a good look as the buzzer sounded. Barnes missed the open three and the Warriors tied the series up at two games apiece.
The Kings are currently in the midst of a playoff push and are fighting to defeat the reigning champs in the first round of the postseason. Without Fox, their chances of defeating the Splash Brothers and Co. are significantly dampened. The team will need to rely on other players to step up and fill the void left by Fox's absence. If Fox can't go, Davion Mitchell is going to have to play the game of his life and Domantas Sabonis is going to have to be more productive on the offensive side of the floor.
Fox's injury is a reminder of how quickly things can change in the world of sports. One moment, a player can be at the top of his game, and the next, he can be sidelined by injury. It is also a testament to the importance of proper rest, recovery, and injury prevention measures, as even the most talented and hardworking athletes are not immune to the risk of injury.
The Sacramento Kings and their fans will be hoping for a speedy recovery for De'Aaron Fox and a return to the court as soon as possible. Until then, the team will need to rally together and find a way to keep their playoff hopes alive without their star player.
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