After a 125-107 win in Game 2, the Oklahoma City Thunder hold a 2-0 lead over the Los Angeles Lakers in their second-round series.
OKC has yet to lose a game this postseason, and what makes this even more impressive is that they have dominated despite being shorthanded, as Jalen Williams has been sidelined with a hamstring strain. Will Williams make his return on Saturday night for Game 3?
Jalen Williams Injury Update: Will the Thunder Star Play in Game 3 vs. Lakers?
Unfortunately, Williams remains sidelined, as the star guard was officially ruled out for tonight’s Game 3.
Williams suffered a Grade 1 hamstring strain during Game 2 of the Thunder’s first-round series against the Phoenix Suns.
It remains to be seen when Williams will return for the Thunder. He has now been sidelined for two-and-a-half weeks. The next chance for Williams to suit up will be Game 4, which is Monday, May 11. Game 5 would be on Wednesday, May 13, if necessary.
During the regular season, Williams averaged 17.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. He struggled with his efficiency, shooting career-lows from the field (48.4%) and 3-point range (29.9%).
Williams appeared in just 33 games during the regular season, as he missed significant stretches while recovering from offseason wrist surgery and a pair of separate hamstring strains. OKC still managed to win an NBA-best 64 games and secure the West’s No. 1 seed with the 25-year-old bouncing in and out of the lineup.
Williams was a crucial piece for the Thunder last season when they won the championship, averaging 21.6 points, 5.1 assists, and 5.3 rebounds per game.
Ajay Mitchell has started for the Thunder in Williams’ absence, and he has played well. Through two games, he is averaging 19.0 points, 5.0 assists, and 2.5 rebounds while shooting 50% from the field (although he has struggled from 3-point range, making just 1-of-8 from deep so far in this series after shooting 45% from long range in Round 1).
The Lakers have injury concerns of their own, as Luka Dončić has been ruled out with a hamstring strain and Jarred Vanderbilt is listed as questionable with a finger injury.
Dončić recently revealed that he was initially given an eight-week recovery timeline when he first hurt his hamstring, which means he likely isn’t close to returning.
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“I’m just doing everything I can, like I said. Every day I’m doing stuff I was supposed to do. Obviously, I’m recovering now, I’m working, but as a doctor said, eight weeks at the beginning of the first MRI,” Dončić said. “So, you know, I’m just going day by day, and I feel better every day.
“I don’t think people understand how frustrating it is. All I wanna do is play basketball, especially this time (of the year)… Seeing what my team is doing, I’m very proud of them. It’s been very tough just to sit and watch them play,” he added.
Game 3 between the Lakers and Thunder will tip off tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET.
