De'Aaron Fox Silences Critics With Clutch Game 2 Surge as Spurs Seize Series Momentum

SAN ANTONIO – De’Aaron Fox has rarely looked mortal since joining the San Antonio Spurs, but the opening game of the Western Conference semifinals was a jolt: 11 points on 4-of-17 shooting, six turnovers and a last-second loss that hushed Frost Bank Center. Paired with Victor Wembanyama’s 10 points, the All-Star backcourt managed just 21 on 10-for-31 overall, giving Minnesota an early road steal and sparking nationwide chatter about Fox’s form. Fox owned the night immediately afterward. “We know when we play bad and when we play well—I don’t need to hear it from somebody else,” he told reporters, waving away any notion that the Timberwolves dictated the outcome. Head coach Mitch Johnson echoed that confidence, insisting he has “no concern” about either star’s box score and predicting a sharper Game 2 response. Why Spurs insiders are unfazed 1. Film shows San Antonio generated 61 open looks in Game 1, a season-high for a playoff contest; the problem was conversion, not creation. 2. Fox’s misfires came primarily in pick-and-roll pull-ups he’s hit at 47 percent since the All-Star break. Coaches believe minor footwork tweaks will restore that rhythm. 3. Wembanyama’s energy skewed heavily to the defensive end—an NBA-record 12 blocks—leaving legs short on jumpers. A minutes-stagger that buys the rookie extra recovery is in Wednesday’s plan. Matchup to watch Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels spent 36 possessions on Fox and forced four of the six turnovers. Expect San Antonio to counter by springing Fox off more off-ball screens, a wrinkle that vaulted his catch-and-shoot efficiency to 41 percent this season. If McDaniels chases, Wembanyama’s short-roll playmaking should unlock easy lobs. Stat that travels Fox has responded to single-digit field-goal nights with 29.3 points per game in the next outing over the past two postseasons. The Spurs are 6-1 in those bounce-back scenarios, a trend Johnson cited while reaffirming trust in his floor general. Bottom line With the series only 1-0 and Anthony Edwards still on a minutes cap after his late-round ankle tweak, the pressure sits squarely on Fox to flip the narrative. A trademark burst—think downhill transition attacks before Minnesota’s length is set—would not just tie the series; it would reassert San Antonio’s identity built on Fox-Wembanyama two-man dominance. If history holds, tonight’s Game 2 could pivot from “What’s wrong with De’Aaron Fox?” to “Remember when we worried?”—and the NBA’s newest super-duo will have silenced another round of skeptics in less than 48 hours.