The San Antonio Spurs’ injury concerns deepened after Game 2 and now, the focus has shifted squarely to De’Aaron Fox.
After losing rookie guard Dylan Harper to a leg injury in Wednesday’s 122-113 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson provided a sobering update on Fox, whose availability moving forward remains uncertain.
Johnson said Fox will be a game-time decision going forward as he attempts to manage a lingering ankle sprain.
“He’s just trying to play every day,” Johnson said after the loss. “It’s a tough injury that he wouldn’t be playing with in the regular season.”
De’Aaron Fox Injury Update: Spurs Star Battling Through Ankle Sprain
Fox’s injury has become a central storyline for San Antonio as the Western Conference Finals continue.
The All-Star guard initially suffered the ankle issue earlier in the playoffs and aggravated it during the Spurs’ previous series against Minnesota. According to Johnson, Fox attempted to push through the injury before another setback.
“He’s trying to tough it out, and he did that in Minnesota,” Johnson said. “Then he had an awkward landing and re-aggravated it.”
The Spurs are now tasked with balancing urgency with caution as they evaluate whether Fox can return at a level that meets playoff demands.
Dylan Harper Injury: Spurs Lose Key Ball Handler in Game 2
GettySan Antonio Spurs star Dylan Harper exited Game 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder with a leg injury.
The uncertainty surrounding Fox became even more critical after Harper exited Game 2 following a pair of awkward falls in the third quarter.
Already without Fox, the Spurs were left without both primary ball handlers — a void that led to 21 turnovers and a 27-10 deficit in points off turnovers.
Victor Wembanyama summed up the team’s response in blunt terms.
“Not well,” Wembanyama said. “We’ve got to help our ball handlers more and take care of the ball.”
Mitch Johnson on Fox: ‘We Gotta Make Sure He Can Compete’
Johnson made it clear that the decision on Fox will not simply be about availability, but effectiveness.
“We just gotta make sure that he’s in a place that he can be out there and compete to the level that he would need to,” Johnson said.
That distinction could prove pivotal.
Fox’s ability to control pace and limit turnovers — he averaged just 2.0 turnovers per game this postseason before the injury — has been sorely missed. Without him and Harper, the Spurs struggled to organize offensively against Oklahoma City’s aggressive defense.
Spurs Injury Outlook: Game-Time Decisions and Rising Pressure
With the series tied 1-1 heading into Game 3 in San Antonio, the Spurs are facing a rapidly tightening margin for error.
The combination of Harper’s uncertain status and Fox’s ongoing ankle issue has left the team navigating a fragile backcourt rotation in a high-stakes series.
Johnson acknowledged the difficulty of the situation.
“When you’re down some of your primary creators and initiators, it causes an extra strain,” he said.
For the Spurs, the next step will hinge on Fox’s status and whether he can return in a meaningful way.
Until then, San Antonio must find a way to stabilize without him.
And as Game 3 approaches, one reality is clear: the Spurs’ playoff hopes may depend on how much their injured star can give and how soon.
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