Report: Kings All-Star De'Aaron Fox fractured finger in shooting hand in Game 4 vs. Warriors
Sacramento Kings All-Star De'Aaron Fox has a fractured finger in his shooting hand, The Athletic's Shams Charania reported.
Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the fracture is to the tip of Fox's left index finger. Fox is considered doubtful for Game 5 on Wednesday, but hasn't been ruled out.
Fox sustained the injury during Sunday's Game 4 that Golden State won to tie the series at 2-2. He's believed to have suffered it in the fourth quarter.
Fox scored 38 points in the game, including 12 in the fourth. He hit a deep pull-up 3 to cut Golden State's lead to one point in the game's final 30 seconds that presumably took place after he sustained the injury.
Sacramento's leading scorer, Fox averaged 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.
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.
When was De'Aaron Fox injured?
While it's not clear exactly when Fox sustained the injury, he was seen clutching his left hand after contact on a drive with 4:35 remaining in the fourth quarter. He drew a foul on Jordan Poole on the drive then appeared to draw contact to his left hand from Golden State center Kevon Looney.
This appears to be the play that De'Aaron Fox fractured his left index finger in the middle of the fourth quarter yesterday. On a floater after the whistle. Looks like it clips Kevon Looney's hand. First time you see him clutch at it. pic.twitter.com/0Ip5YWbw8g
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 24, 2023
Fox immediately shook his left hand after the play then clutched his index finger with his right hand. He did not leave the game. He drove and hit a floater from the right elbow 14 seconds later and showed no outward sign of injury after the initial contact. He remained in the game after a timeout and played through the final buzzer.
Fox's injury is the latest in a postseason that's seen some of the NBA's biggest stars sidelined. Fellow All-Stars Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, Kawhi Leonard and Ja Morant have all missed first-round action due to injuries.
