De’Aaron Fox doubtful for Game 5 of Warriors vs. Kings
The Sacramento Kings are hoping to knock out the defending champion Golden State Warriors in one of the more intriguing opening-round series of the NBA Playoffs. However, the third-seeded Kings might have to play without All-Star point guard De’Aaron Fox in Game 5 at the Golden 1 Center. Fox fractured the tip of his left index finger in Game 4, leaving him doubtful as his team tries to take a 3-2 lead in the series.
Kings guard De’Aaron Fox fractured the very tip of his left index finger in Game 4, but there’s still hope he will try and play Game 5 on Tuesday, sources tell ESPN. Fox would need to play with a protective covering on the finger. He will be listed as doubtful.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 24, 2023
Fox has been ridiculous throughout this series, as he’s averaging 31.5 points, 7.0 assists, 6.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game through four games. If he’s unable to play, or limited by a protective covering, Sacramento is going to be in big trouble.
Fox is the engine of this Kings team, as his ability to push the tempo and make plays for himself and others is the reason Sacramento is one of the best offensive teams in basketball. Fox also won the NBA’s new Clutch Player of the Year award for his ability to deliver down the stretch. So, if he’s unable to shoot the basketball, the Kings are also going to be worse in late-game situations.
This series has taken all sorts of turns thus far. Despite being the lower seed, Golden State was nearly a -300 favorite (all odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook) to win this series before the playoffs started. But Sacramento was a -174 favorite to win the series after taking a 2-0 series lead. The Kings then had a chance to stick a fork in the Warriors by beating them without Draymond Green in Game 3, when the four-time NBA All-Defensive First Teamer was suspended for stomping on Domantas Sabonis’ chest in Game 2. The Kings were unable to take advantage of that absence, and the Warriors ended up winning both games in Golden State.
Earlier on Monday, the Warriors were listed as -180 favorites to win the series and 1.5-point underdogs in Game 5. But the Fox news now has Golden State as a -250 favorite to win the series and a 3.5-point favorite in Game 5. With that in mind, the Warriors are firmly in the driver’s seat in the eyes of the oddsmakers. And the Kings must be kicking themselves for potentially squandering the opportunity of a lifetime.
