PG De’Aaron Fox is listed as questionable for Tuesday, May 12’s Timberwolves vs. Spurs Game 5 at 8:00 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
An ankle injury from Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals has lingered in the days after, leading to Swipa’s availability being brought to center stage as Tuesday rolls on.
Below, we'll break down the latest De’Aaron Fox injury update, if Fox will play tonight, and who to target on PrizePicks if he sits.
Make your NBA Playoff picks on PrizePicks — including ones for Minnesota vs. San Antonio in Game 5.
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De’Aaron Fox Injury Update: Is Fox Playing Tonight vs. Timberwolves?
Fox is officially questionable for Game 5, per the daily NBA injury report on Tuesday afternoon.
The designation for Fox is “right ankle soreness,” stemming from Timberwolves G Ayo Dosunmu landing on him in Sunday’s 114-109 Minnesota victory. Fox managed to play 37 minutes in the contest anyway, finishing 8-of-23 from the floor and 1-of-7 from deep.
Despite his scoring efficiency shortcomings, the Spurs needed every bit of production Fox could give them. Game 4 saw C Victor Wembanyama get ejected for elbowing Wolves PF Naz Reid, thus placing more of a workload on others.
Through nine playoff games, Fox is averaging 34.1 minutes. His 18.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 5.6 assists each night remain pivotal as San Antonio chases a berth in the Western Conference Finals. The former No. 5 overall NBA Draft pick from 2017 is not only a great on-court presence, but he's also a veteran example for young guards Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper.
Fox was able to participate in shootaround on Tuesday morning, which can only be viewed as a positive for both him and the team.
As Fox’s status continues to be monitored, you can still make picks on his PrizePicks projections if he does play. Popular De’Aaron Fox picks include 17 Points, 1.5 3-PT Made, 5.5 Assists, 32.5 Fantasy Score, and more.
What Players to Target on PrizePicks if Fox Is Out?
If Fox can’t fight past his ankle discomfort on Tuesday, what could the Spurs be missing? The advanced impact metrics aren’t too kind.
During the regular season, per databallr, San Antonio was actually 1.5 points per 100 possessions worse with Fox on the court. That number is 13.8 in the postseason, largely due to the defense being 17.6% better than league average down Fox compared to just 4.6% better when he plays.
On an individual level, Fox being out could sway the output of several Spurs players. First and foremost, 2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle sees a 4.7% uptick in usage rate without Fox but shoots 13.9% worse from the 3-point line.
Don’t leave rookie G Dylan Harper out in the cold, though. The Rutgers product has an 8.7 average plus-minus in 993 minutes without Fox versus a 4.6 mark with him. Lastly, SG Devin Vassell falls in a bucket similar to Castle. His usage rate increases from 16.8% to 19.1% when Fox rests, but his true shooting clip drops from 59.8% to 54.9%.
Here are the Spurs players who may benefit most on PrizePicks if Fox is out, as well as their stat projections for tonight.
- Stephon Castle vs. Timberwolves Projections: 17.5 Points / 5 Rebounds / 7 Assists
- Dylan Harper vs. Timberwolves Projections: 11.5 Points / 3.5 Rebounds / 3 Assists
- Devin Vassell vs. Timberwolves Projections: 13 Points / 4 Rebounds / 1.5 3-PT Made (Goblin)
Volume stats indicate that Castle and Vassell are more involved in Fox-less minutes. Harper appears to be the most consistent option, though, and the more efficient one as a result.
Pick More or Less Spurs player stats on PrizePicks now before Tuesday’s 8:00 p.m. tip.
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Make Timberwolves vs. Spurs Game 5 Picks on PrizePicks
De’Aaron Fox is questionable, and tip-off for Timberwolves vs. Spurs is just hours away. Can the star PG play through the pain, or will San Antonio be shorthanded in front of the home crowd?
Don't wait — make your Timberwolves vs. Spurs picks on PrizePicks now and earn real money if you're right.
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