De'Aaron Fox's Status for Game 3 Between Spurs and Thunder Remains Uncertain

De’Aaron Fox (Image Via Getty)

The biggest question before Game 3 between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder is still hanging in the air, will De’Aaron Fox finally return? The Spurs guard is officially listed as questionable because of his right high ankle sprain, and the team may wait until just before tip-off to decide. Fox already missed Games 1 and 2, and with the Western Conference Finals tied 1-1, his status suddenly feels even more important.

De’Aaron Fox 2025-26 season stats

Category

Stats

Points per game

18.6

Assists per game

6.2

Rebounds per game

3.8

Steals per game

1.2

Field goal percentage

48.6%

Games played

72

Will De’Aaron Fox play in Game 3 against the Thunder?

Right now, Fox is not guaranteed to play. Reports around the team continue to describe him as a “game-time decision,” which means the Spurs are still testing how the ankle responds before making a final call. The injury has already forced him to sit out the first two games of the series. Before Game 2, Fox reportedly went through warmups but still could not get comfortable enough to play. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson also admitted the team is handling the injury carefully because high ankle sprains can easily get worse if rushed. Even if Fox is cleared tonight, there is still a strong chance he could be on a minutes restriction. The Spurs know they need his speed, playmaking, and defense, but they also do not want to risk losing him for the rest of the postseason. If Fox cannot go again, more pressure will fall on Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper to run the offense alongside Victor Wembanyama. That became difficult in Game 2, where San Antonio struggled with turnovers and ball movement during important stretches.

Why this matchup matters so much

Game 3 could completely change the direction of the series. The Spurs stole Game 1 in double overtime, but the Thunder answered strongly in Game 2. Now the series moves to San Antonio with momentum sitting right in the middle. For the Spurs, getting Fox back would give the team another reliable scorer next to Victor Wembanyama. His ability to attack the rim could also help slow down Oklahoma City’s aggressive defense. For the Thunder, the focus remains on stopping Wembanyama and forcing San Antonio’s younger guards into mistakes. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues leading Oklahoma City with strong scoring and playmaking, while the Thunder defense has created major problems for the Spurs’ backcourt during the series. With the Western Conference Finals now tied 1-1, tonight’s game may end up being the turning point of the entire series.

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