Fox still – De’Aaron Fox is set to return for Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but the ankle injury he played through in Game 3 is still tied to a painful moment from two weeks earlier—an action by Ayo Dosunmu that Fox and his inn
For the San Antonio Spurs, Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder is a must-win, and the stakes are already personal.
Head coach Mitch Johnson expects both De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper to play. with ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reporting their availability ahead of the crucial matchup. It’s a swing that could matter immediately—because Fox comes into the contest still carrying frustration from an injury that has lingered since late in Game 3.
In Game 3, Fox made his series debut and played through an ankle injury to score 15 points. Harper, meanwhile, pushed through an abductor issue to keep his spot on the floor. Both guards are central pieces for San Antonio’s postseason. and Johnson’s expectation that they’ll be available keeps the Spurs’ plan intact.
But for Fox, the problem isn’t only the ankle. The frustration runs deeper, tied to a sequence from two weeks earlier that Fox and those close to him believe was unnecessary.
The Athletic reports Fox is still highly peeved about what he and his inner circle consider an “unnecessary” choice made by Ayo Dosunmu. The moment is traced back to Fox walking out after Game 3 with his right ankle still tender from Lu Dort’s late third-quarter diving collision.
As Fox looked back, he returned mentally to another hit—this one involving Minnesota. In Game 4 of the second round against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Dosunmu lunged for a loose ball that Fox had already secured. crashing into the upper part of his leg. Fox and those close to him viewed it as an unfortunate decision that he has been paying for ever since.
That lingering impact has only felt worse in the postseason flow, compounded again by Dort’s linebacker-style dive that left Fox’s right ankle tender. The result is a blend of medical reality and sharpened resentment—something that doesn’t disappear just because Game 4 is next.
Dosunmu. meanwhile. is turning the page from the Timberwolves chapter as he sets his sights on what comes after the playoffs. After a midseason trade from the Chicago Bulls. Dosunmu spoke about how grateful he is for the Minnesota Timberwolves organization and the fans who embraced him during his time there.
Moving forward, the guard said he’s excited to experience unrestricted free agency for the first time in his five-year career after a successful playoff run.
The Spurs’ immediate question is straightforward: can Fox and Harper stay on the floor when San Antonio needs them most?. The story around Fox. though. is more complicated than injury status alone—because in this postseason. the tender right ankle is also a reminder of moments that Fox believes were avoidable. and a night he hasn’t fully gotten past.
De'Aaron Fox Ayo Dosunmu San Antonio Spurs Oklahoma City Thunder Western Conference Finals Game 4 Dylan Harper ankle injury Lu Dort Minnesota Timberwolves Chicago Bulls free agency
So Dosunmu basically hurt him on purpose or what?
I don’t even get it, Fox is coming back for Game 4 but still mad from some other game?? Basketball drama is wild. If he’s playing, let’s just play.
Wait I thought the Thunder were playing the Wolves again or something? Like the article mentions Minnesota but now it’s OKC. Also Fox played through the ankle injury, so why is everyone acting like it’s totally new now lol.
“Unnecessary” choice by Dosunmu… okay but aren’t guys always diving for loose balls? Feels like Fox is just blaming whatever name is trending. And the timeline in here is confusing, like Game 3, then two weeks earlier, then Minnesota, then Thunder? Either way, if Fox is still hurt then I’m sure he’ll say it’s everybody else’s fault.