The first twist of the Western Conference finals has arrived. San Antonio Spurs point guard De’Aaron Fox has been ruled out of Game 1 of the Western Conference finals with ankle soreness, the team announced. The decision came an hour before tipoff in Oklahoma City.
Luke Kornet, who was also questionable for Game 1 alongside Fox, will play through foot soreness.
“It’s one of those deals where it’s not going away for as long as we’re playing, I don’t believe,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said pregame. “I know they’ll do everything they can to play, and that’s just where they’re at.”
The injury leaves San Antonio with one fewer ballhandler against Oklahoma City’s pressure-oriented defense.
Fox is averaging 18.8 points, 5.8 assists and 2.0 turnovers per game this postseason for the Spurs, who will likely lean more heavily on rookie guard Dylan Harper
