After winning their first two games in Sacramento, the Kings hoped to escape Chase Center with at least one win in games 3 and 4. Instead, they not only dropped both away games, but they also suffered a blow to their star point guard, De’Aaron Fox.
Announced today by The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Fox is doubtful for Game 5 with a fractured finger but may attempt to play through the injury after receiving treatment today.
“Sacramento Kings star De’Aaron Fox has suffered a fractured index finger in his left shooting hand, sources tell The Athletic and Stadium,” wrote Shams. “Fox is expected to be listed doubtful to play in Game 5 vs. Warriors. The Kings All-Star guard is believed to have sustained the injury midway through the fourth quarter of Sunday’s Game 3 and played through it. Fox had 38 points, nine rebounds, and five assists on Sunday.”
The Kings All-Star guard is believed to have sustained the injury midway through the fourth quarter of Sunday’s Game 3 and played through it. Fox had 38 points, nine rebounds and five assists on Sunday. https://t.co/41yWneUTWo
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 24, 2023
Fox will obviously be back at some point, but it remains to be seen how the injury will affect his game, and if Fox is compromised offensively, it could be the weakness Golden State needs to advance in the series.
Nevertheless, fans on Twitter are freaking out and lamenting over another injury overshadowing what has been a fantastic series so far.
Series is over.
— The Pettiest Laker Fan 🤫 (@ThePettiestLA) April 24, 2023
Even as a Warriors fan, you hate to see this, it’s such an entertaining and good series 💯
— LC51 (@_LC51_) April 24, 2023
Damn this sucks. Fox has been terrific all year and is so necessary to this Kings team
The injury bug has been brutal this year
— Sean Barnard (@Sean_Barnard1) April 24, 2023
As bad as this development is for the Kings, the fans, and the NBA, it sets the Warriors up for an easier path to the title, and some even went so far as to call out the Warriors for being lucky.
Golden State is the luckiest franchise in the history of sports
— Ethical Hoops🏆 (only takes Ws) (@EthicalHoopz) April 24, 2023
Warriors getting bailed by another injury? What’s new lmao
— 🅵🅾🆁🆃🅷🅴🅵🅰🅽🆂 🎙 (@503Blazerfans) April 24, 2023
Warriors fans finding out about De’Aaron Fox injury pic.twitter.com/OFExFfjTq2
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) April 24, 2023
No matter what you believe about Golden State, nobody wished this on Fox, who has been one of the best young players in the league this season. With averages of 25 points, 6.1 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game, he emerged as a star this year and has made history with this Kings team.
Can The Kings Still Win The Series?
Without De’Aaron, the Kings will have to lean more on their others guys, especially Malik Monk, to fill the void. And while there will be no matching what Fox brings offensively, the Kings still have enough talent and depth to make life difficult for the Warriors. So, in Game 5, what can we expect?
Even against a short-handed Kings team, there is reason to doubt the Warriors can win. They’ve been horrible on the road all season long, and they’ll have to win one of the next two games in Golden 1 Center if they want to move on.
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