The OKC Thunder face fresh concerns regarding Jalen Williams’ injury ahead of Friday’s Game 3 of their Western Conference finals series against the San Antonio Spurs. The Thunder have listed him as questionable for this contest.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Williams will be evaluated day by day and game by game. For now, he can be considered a game-time decision. Williams went down with a left hamstring strain in the first quarter of Wednesday’s Game 2. He played seven minutes before heading for the locker room. Williams didn’t return and was officially ruled out.
He had injured the same left hamstring in Game 2 of the first-round series against the Phoenix Suns. Williams missed the next six games before returning for Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.
He played 37 minutes in his return as the game went into double overtime. Williams scored 26 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished three assists, while shooting 44.0% from the field. However, the Thunder lost 122-115.
In Game 2, he had four points and two steals on 2 of 4 shots before he left due to his injury. The Thunder won 122-113 despite his absence after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returned to his best with a 30-point, nine-assist game while shooting 50.0% from the field.
It helped that the Spurs were shorthanded in that game, as De’Aaron Fox didn’t suit up and Dylan Harper went down with an injury in the third quarter. The Spurs didn’t have many options outside Stephon Castle at the point of attack, who struggled to contain the ball. Castle committed nine turnovers after an 11-turnover night in Game 1.
Fox and Harper are questionable and could play in Game 3 at home for the Spurs. So, while the Thunder won Game 2 without Jalen Williams, they will likely need him in the lineup on Friday to help OKC take a 2-1 lead and restore homecourt advantage.
Unlike their past opponents, the Thunder face significant resistance from the Spurs’ perimeter defenders in one-on-one coverage and having a force like Williams will be key to their success in the series.
Who will replace Jalen Williams in the Thunder starting lineup in Game 3 vs. Spurs?
If Jalen Williams is ruled out, the Thunder will have to choose a viable option to replace him in the starting lineup. Ajay Mitchell got the nod ahead of Cason Wallace in the past six games that Williams missed. Mitchell flourished in his new role, averaging 21.2 points, 5.3 assists and 1.2 steals, shooting 48.0% from the field. He was the team’s second-best player behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
However, Mitchell’s production has significantly dropped against the Spurs. He’s averaging 7.0 ppg and 3.5 apg, shooting 46.2%. Mitchell hasn’t made a 3-pointer in the opening two games. On the other hand, Wallace has been solid. He’s averaging 10.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.0 apg and 3.0 spg, shooting 58.3% from the field and 54.5% from 3-point range.
He started the second half of Game 2 in Williams’ absence, so it seems Mark Diagneault might choose Wallace over Mitchell.
