De'Aaron Fox was re-injured Friday on a play involving Oklahoma City's Lu Dort, leaving the Thunder guard limping into Game 4 of the Western Conference finals as San Antonio sought to even the series.
Fox, who missed the first two games of the series with a right ankle sprain and only made his series debut in Game 3, has been dealing with the same right ankle injury throughout the postseason. The latest tweak came on a play that featured Luguentz Dort, though Fox was not listed on the most recent league injury report for Game 4 and, he said bluntly, he "can't feel sorry for myself."
The weight of Friday's development landed against a clear scoreboard story from Game 4's first half: Victor Wembanyama scored 22 points before intermission and San Antonio carried a 12-point lead into the break. Oklahoma City had one of 11 3-point attempts fall in the first half, a drought that magnified the effect of Wembanyama's scoring outburst and the Spurs' halftime advantage.
Both Fox and Dylan Harper were expected to play in Game 4. Harper, who left Game 2 prematurely with a groin injury and has been playing through that issue, was not on the most current injury report either. He had 17 minutes in Game 3, scoring six points on 2-for-7 shooting. The Spurs’ young backcourt, which has been under consistent pressure from Oklahoma City's defense, included the early-season flashpoints: Game 1 winner San Antonio produced a standout performance when Harper recorded 24 points, 10 rebounds and seven steals in that opener.
Oklahoma City enters Game 4 with roster gaps. Jalen Williams was officially listed as out, as was Ajay Mitchell, leaving more responsibility on available scorers and on Fox’s ability to push through his lingering ankle problem. The Thunder's regular-season accolades are also in the mix: Chet Holmgren was named to the third team All-NBA, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama made the first team — honors that underline the stakes and the star-power around this series.
The tension is obvious. Fox has been limping through the postseason, missed Games 1 and 2, returned for Game 3 and was then hurt again in a play involving Luguentz Dort. Yet he is listed as expected to play in Game 4 and has framed his approach in blunt terms: do the work and accept the risk. At the same time, Oklahoma City’s 3-point collapse in the first half and the absences of Williams and Mitchell make the Thunder more dependent than ever on a fit Fox and the interior presence of Holmgren.
The most consequential fact of this moment is simple: if Fox cannot sustain minutes at his usual level, Oklahoma City’s depth and scoring balance are compromised and the Spurs’ ability to even the series will only grow. Conversely, if Fox moves through the ankle issue and OKC can shake loose from 3-point futility, the Thunder can still reclaim control. For now the series hinge is the right ankle of De'Aaron Fox — and whether playing through it will be a short-term gamble or the decisive move of this Western Conference finals.
