Will Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox return for critical game against Grizzlies?
Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox is listed as questionable, but he hopes to return to the lineup when the Kings conclude a four-game road trip with a big game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday at FedExForum in Memphis.
Fox was held out of a 112-108 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday due to lower abdominal tightness. The team said the injury is correlated to the right groin tightness Fox experienced in Tuesday’s win over the Golden State Warriors. The Kings determined Fox would be unavailable against the Thunder following Thursday’s morning shootaround.
“I went through shootaround to see how it felt; tried to get as much of a game-like speed to see how it felt,” Fox said following Thursday’s game. “I didn’t feel good and we just made the decision. During the (Warriors) game, it kind of started hurting. We had the day of rest and then we had this morning to see how it felt and we didn’t feel like I could go tonight.”
After consulting an outside physician for a second opinion in Oklahoma City, Fox believes he will be able to play Friday when the Kings (24-34) visit the Grizzlies (28-30) in a game with significant playoff implications for both teams. Memphis is eighth in the Western Conference, four games ahead of the Kings for the final playoff berth. The Grizzlies have lost four in a row. They will be without Jaren Jackson Jr. and Brandon Clarke.
The Kings said Fox is considered day-to-day and will continue to be monitored by the team’s medical staff, but Fox is clearly hoping to play against the Grizzlies.
“We had another doc look at it and he didn’t think it could get worse by playing,” Fox said. “… Right now I feel like I’ll be able to play (Friday).”
The Kings went 9-9 in 18 games without Fox earlier this season. He missed 17 games with a grade-3 ankle sprain in November and December and later missed a game due to back spasms.
Fox has played through some discomfort while nursing ankle and shoulder soreness in recent weeks. He said the decision to sit Thursday was made in part to help him get ready for a critical game against Memphis, but Kings coach Luke Walton said Fox’s health is more important than any one game.
“We have to make sure he stays healthy whether there’s a game tomorrow or not,” Walton said Thursday. “The decision was based on what’s best for him tonight. … He’ll get treatment during the game and treatment again (Friday) morning, and we’ll get to the arena and see how he’s feeling.”
This story was originally published February 28, 2020 at 11:00 AM.