De’Aaron Fox had the breakout performance of the season that had Spurs fans talking. With Victor Wembanyama out for the first time this season, Fox took total control of San Antonio’s offense, scoring a season-high 28 points and adding 11 assists in a 123-110 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.
The Spurs completely excelled with Fox’s performance tonight by ending a two-game losing streak and setting a positive tone that made everyone around him better. San Antonio really needed that boost, especially since injuries had stacked up and forced changes to the lineup again.
However, the Spurs responded as seven players scored in double figures, and Fox’s presence guided the team’s hot offense from beginning to end. In his first win over Sacramento since the midseason trade that changed both teams, Fox showed he was in charge of his new role. Let’s dive into the stats of the point guard’s best performance of the new season so far.
1. Fox Set The Tone Early And Never Let Up
De’Aaron Fox’s strong start was an indication of what the game was going to be about. After scoring just 16 points in his last game against Sacramento, where he went 0-for-6 from three, he sank his first field goal on Sunday and hit two early threes, showing a new side of himself.
He finished the night shooting 11-of-20 from the field, 4-of-8 from deep, and a perfect 2-of-2 at the line. His shot selection was precise, avoiding out-of-rhythm shots, which helped boost the team’s overall efficiency. More importantly, Fox became the anchor San Antonio needed with Victor Wembanyama out.
He created quick, early offense, and the numbers reflect his impact. San Antonio shot 54% overall, and Fox’s ability to draw defenders played a big role in that. He opened up better shots for Harrison Barnes (7-of-11), Devin Vassell (6-of-14), and Keldon Johnson (7-of-11 off the bench). In a game where the Spurs needed someone to take charge, Fox did just that, and Sacramento could never respond to an equal level.
2. His Playmaking Was Elite, Controlling The Entire Offense
Fox ran the whole game beyond scoring the ball. His 11 assists tied his season-high and fueled San Antonio’s total of 38 assists, a number far higher than Sacramento’s 25. Four different Spurs hit several threes, with most of those opportunities starting from Fox attacking the defense.
His decision-making was sharp as well. Even with the ball in his hands more than anyone else on the floor, he had only two turnovers, resulting in an impressive 11-to-2 assist-to-turnover ratio. This was a huge improvement compared to the Spurs’ overall struggles with 15 turnovers.
He also helped the Spurs gain an edge in fast-break scoring (15-9) and points in the paint (58-44) by consistently keeping Domantas Sabonis and the other bigs on their toes. With Wembanyama out and Stephon Castle leaving after the first half with an injury, Fox’s control of the offense was absolutely needed.
3. Fox Outplayed His Former Team When It Mattered Most
This performance marked his first win against the team that traded him. Fox entered the game 0-1 against Sacramento since the February trade and had struggled in that first matchup. However, on Sunday, he turned things around with a +20 plus/minus, the highest of any player in the game.
He outperformed Sacramento’s guards and kept the Spurs ahead in all major offensive stats, including field-goal percentage (54% to 47%), three-point percentage (37% to 36%), and total points in the paint (58 to 44). By the time San Antonio built its largest lead of 19 points, Fox had already dismantled his old team.
He also helped stop Sacramento’s momentum whenever they threatened to make a run. The Kings’ stars had impressive numbers. DeRozan scored 27 points, and Sabonis recorded a 17-13 double-double, but Fox’s controlled pace kept Sacramento from speeding up the game by any means.
San Antonio also allowed only 15 points off turnovers, which was impressive given their own 15 giveaways, and Fox played a key role in preventing those errors from turning into momentum swingers. In an emotional victory, Fox perfectly guided his new team.
