De'Aaron Fox listed questionable for Game 2

De’Aaron Fox entered Wednesday as a question mark for San Antonio in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals, with the Spurs listing the guard as questionable after he missed the series opener with a right ankle issue. NBA.com’s live Game 2 coverage said Fox was questionable for the contest after sitting out Game 1, and the league’s injury-report rules require teams to designate a participation status in advance of tipoff. May 18 was the date of Game 1, and the series opened at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City with Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs facing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder. NBA.com’s recap said San Antonio won the opener, while NBC’s Game 2 preview identified the matchup as Spurs-Thunder in the West finals and placed the second game back in Oklahoma City. (nba.com) ### What, exactly, is Fox’s status for Game 2? NBA.com listed Fox as questionable for Wednesday night’s game after he missed the opener. The same live coverage said Fox would start at point guard if available and noted that his speed could test Oklahoma City’s defense. Yahoo Sports, citing the official injury report, said Fox was listed as questionable because of a right ankle injury and that his final status would be determined before tipoff. (nba.com) Sports Illustrated reported Spurs interim coach Mitch Johnson said Tuesday that he had “no clue” whether Fox would play. ### Why was Fox out of the opener? (nba.com) Game 1 was played without Fox after he was ruled out with an ankle sprain, according to NBA.com’s live recap of the opener. That left San Antonio without one of its primary ballhandlers at the start of the series. The NBA’s official injury-report page says teams must identify both a status designation and a specific injury or reason for any player whose participation may be affected. (sports.yahoo.com) In Fox’s case, outside reports on Wednesday identified the issue as his right ankle. ### Where does this leave the series? Wednesday’s Game 2 was set in Oklahoma City, with the Spurs returning to face the Thunder after what NBA.com called a double-overtime Game 1 classic. (nba.com) The league’s live blog said teams that take a 2-0 lead in the playoffs have gone on to win their series 92.6% of the time. (official.nba.com) NBA.com’s Spurs schedule page showed San Antonio entering Game 2 with a 1-0 series lead. The same schedule listed a potential Game 6 for May 22 in San Antonio and a potential Game 7 for May 30 back in Oklahoma City. ### Who are the central names around Game 2 besides Fox? Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the lead Thunder name in NBA.com’s and NBC’s Game 2 coverage, while Victor Wembanyama remained the Spurs’ headline figure after the opening win. (cdn-uat.nba.com) NBA.com also noted rookie Dylan Harper’s Game 1 role when discussing how San Antonio could use Fox if he were cleared. (nba.com) Mitch Johnson was the Spurs coach quoted most directly on Fox’s availability. His Tuesday comment to reporters — that he had no clear answer yet — underscored that the decision was still pending heading into Wednesday. ### What should readers watch next? Wednesday night’s final injury report and pregame lineup confirmation were the next checkpoints for Fox’s availability. (nba.com) NBA.com’s live Game 2 page and the league’s injury-report system were the clearest places to see whether San Antonio’s starting point guard would be cleared before tipoff in Oklahoma City. (si.com)