Who’s got the best odds? Sportsbooks for Kings-Warriors’ Game 5 matchup amid Fox injury

The fractured finger of fate has sent tremors through Sacramento’s playoff hopes and the Vegas sportsbooks.

The Kings are deadlocked with the defending champs by the Bay at two games apiece heading into a pivotal Game 5 of a best-of-seven series that could very well be separated by the tip of De’Aaron Fox’s broken finger. The guard is doubtful for Wednesday’s return home to Golden 1 Center after the injury to his shooting hand in the fourth quarter of the Kings’ 126-125 Game 4 loss to the Golden State Warriors Sunday in San Francisco.

Now Sacramento, who jumped out to a 2-0 series lead at home before the Warriors broke serve at Chase Center, have their doubters in Sin City.

“Brutal news out of Sacramento ahead of Game 5,” FanSided’s Reed Wallach led Tuesday night.

“With De’Aaron Fox doubtful for Game 5, Warriors-Kings line makes a big fence-jumping adjustment,” tweeted Vegas Insider’s Patrick Everson.

Fox has been enormous for the Kings through the series’ first four games. The NBA’s Clutch Player of the Year is averaging 31.5 points, six rebounds, seven assists and 2.5 steals in his first-ever NBA playoff series.

Most books had Sacramento a slight 1½-point favorite at home for Game 5 before Sunday’s fourth-quarter fracture, but the star guard’s injury news set Vegas’ fence-jumping in motion with a nearly 3-point swing.

Caesars, FanDuel and WynnBet now have Golden State laying a full four points on the road. SuperBook Sports moved from Kings minus-1½ to giving 3½ points on the home court before settling on the 4 number.

Circa Sports had Sacramento a near-pick ‘em one-point favorite before Fox’s finger set the slide in motion. Golden State likewise moved to one-point underdogs to minus-4 in Sacramento’s building.

BetMGM has the Kings a three-point home underdog.

The Kings hope Fox, who is in his first NBA playoff series, can play through the injury. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said Fox would likely wear some sort of protective covering on the injured finger.

Fox gutted out the pain en route to a 38-point performance Sunday — his second 38-point effort of the series. Fox also grabbed nine rebounds and dished out five assists in the loss.

This story was originally published April 25, 2023 at 12:50 PM.

Darrell Smith

The Sacramento Bee

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Darrell Smith is a local reporter for The Sacramento Bee. He joined The Bee in 2006 and previously worked at newspapers in Palm Springs, Colorado Springs and Marysville. Smith was born and raised at Beale Air Force Base and lives in Elk Grove.