De'Aaron Fox was ruled out for Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday due to a right ankle injury [1, 2]. The Spurs guard has been dealing with soreness or a sprain in his right ankle since Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals, when he sustained the injury after contact with Ayo Dosunmu of the Minnesota Timberwolves on June 7 [2]. Despite the injury, Fox played in Games 5 and 6 of the semifinals before San Antonio eliminated Minnesota on Friday night [2, 1].
Fox has been a key contributor throughout the playoffs, averaging 18.8 points and 5.8 assists per game for the Spurs [1, 2]. He has started 72 games this regular season and had not missed a game since March 25 [2]. Spurs sources differ slightly on the injury's description: one calls it right ankle soreness [1], another a sprain [2]. Fox’s averages include 5.8 assists per game in the playoffs, while some reports note an average of 3.5 rebounds as well [1, 2].
The injury forces the Spurs to face the Thunder without one of their top performers in a critical Western Conference Finals matchup. Meanwhile, Luke Kornet, who was questionable with a left foot injury, is now available for Game 1 [1, 2].
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said, "I understand the general expectations of what we were supposed to do in October aren't necessarily aligned with where we're at right now. We never talked about what we were going to be or what we were going to do. We just knew that we had a lot of potential and we were going to try to be the best team we could be" [1].
The Spurs will play Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday without Fox in the lineup [1, 2].
