Just five games after returning from a severe ankle sprain, De’Aaron Fox was forced to exit Thursday’s double-overtime loss against Minnesota with back spasms. The third-year guard pulled up in pain and went straight to the locker room less than two minutes after tipoff and did not return.
The Kings later stated on Friday that a precautionary MRI “revealed no structural damage and he will be listed as day-to-day moving forward.”
More bad luck ensued in the third quarter when Kings forward Marvin Bagley left the game with a left foot injury. The 2018 second overall pick was less than three weeks removed from a broken thumb that kept him sidelined for the first 23 games of the season. “He will be evaluated by a foot specialist tomorrow and an update will be provided as appropriate,” the Kings said in a statement.
Fox and Bagley, each top-five picks taken within the last three years, have already missed a combined 40 games this year. It was widely thought that, after their encouraging 39-win season in 2018-19, the Kings’ young duo would lead the up-and-coming franchise into the playoff conversation out West. Despite sporting a disappointing 12-18 record, Sacramento remains just 1.5 games out of eighth place.
