Sacramento Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox is unlikely to play in Game 5 of the team’s first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers due to a broken finger, according to an Associated Press source.
Fox suffered the injury during Game 4 of the series on Sunday night. He was seen wearing a splint on his left hand after the game, and the Kings announced that he would undergo further testing on Monday.
The news of Fox’s injury is a major blow to the Kings, who are already without star center Marvin Bagley III due to a foot injury. Fox has been the team’s leading scorer throughout the playoffs, averaging 24.3 points, 7.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game.
Without Fox, the Kings will have to rely on other players to step up in his absence. Veteran guard Cory Joseph is expected to start in Fox’s place, but it will be up to the likes of Buddy Hield, Harrison Barnes and Bogdan Bogdanovic to pick up the slack on offense.
The Kings currently trail the Lakers 3-1 in the series, so Fox’s absence could be a major factor in whether or not they can mount a comeback. The team will need to play with a sense of urgency if they want to extend their season beyond Game 5.
It remains to be seen how long Fox will be sidelined with his injury, but it is clear that his absence will be felt by the Kings in Game 5 and beyond. The team will need to find a way to overcome this setback if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive.
