Oklahoma City Thunder star forward Jalen Williams delivered another subpar performance during Thursday’s 119-107 Game 6 Western Conference semifinal road loss to the Denver Nuggets. Afterward, NBA fans let Williams hear about it, with many accusing him of being a playoff choker.
With OKC holding a 3-2 series lead and an opportunity to reach its first Western Conference Finals since 2016, superstar guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander came through. The MVP frontrunner scored a game-high 32 points on 11-for-16 shooting (68.8%). However, he didn’t get much help from his supporting cast, particularly Williams, who mustered six points on 3-for-16 shooting (18.8%), missing all four of his 3-point attempts.
Star big man Chet Holmgren, who recorded a 19-point, 11-rebound double-double, was Gilgeous-Alexander’s lone teammate to score over 10 points. Meanwhile, Nuggets superstar center Nikola Jokić, star guard Jamal Murray and wing Christian Braun combined for 77 points. Denver also received an unexpected 15 second-half points from sophomore wing Julian Strawther, previously a non-factor in the series, leaving OKC struggling to keep up.
NBA Fans Slam Jalen Williams for 6-Point Showing in Game 6 Loss to Denver
Williams’ six-point Game 6 flop was not only his lowest scoring effort of the postseason but also marked his third time shooting 25% or worse in Round 2. Moreover, he has shot below 36% in three straight contests, putting his No. 1-seeded squad (68-14) at risk of elimination.
Following Thursday’s letdown, fans on X called out the first-time All-Star for repeatedly coming up short.
“Dub has to figure it out. This is atrocious,” one fan said.
Dub has to figure it out. This is atrocious. https://t.co/CqlJeUaw2O
— Terry Fox (@xterryfox)
“Jalen Williams shooting tour dates,” another wrote.
Jalen Williams shooting tour dates 🔥
— Haile selasie 🇭🇹🇳🇬 (@_MisterBiscuit)
“And that’s why OKC won’t be winning it all this year. He’s been absolute a*s outside of one game and I’m supposed to trust him in a Game 7? No sir,” one user asserted.
And that’s why OKC won’t be winning it all this year
He’s been absolute ass outside of one game and I’m supposed to trust him in a Game 7? No sir
— Ezekiel Bread Advocate (@_therealdeal__)
Meanwhile, others questioned Williams’ All-Star status, suggesting that he deceived fans with his play before the second round.
“Someone explain how He Made an All star if this how he Playing,” one fan asked.
“Bro really tricked the timeline with one good month,” another claimed.
“Thunder playoffs in a nutshell. First round: jdub plays super well and looks like a playoff riser. Second round: leaves sga to fend for himself,” one more weighed in.
Mark Daigneault Expecting Bounce-Back Effort From OKC in Game 7
While the Thunder received few offensive contributions apart from Gilgeous-Alexander in Game 6, coach Mark Daigneault appears confident in their chances of bouncing back.
After Thursday’s defeat, Daigneault gave the Nuggets their due before highlighting his team’s series-long resiliency.
“First of all, credit Denver. They threw a punch tonight, as has happened in the series. Both teams are exchanging blows,” Daigneault said. “They got theirs in tonight, and both teams have done a great job of standing back up, including us, and we need to do that on Sunday.”
After sweeping the Memphis Grizzlies in Round 1, OKC hasn’t lost consecutive games this postseason. That should bode well for its chances of emerging victorious from Sunday’s do-or-die Game 7 home tilt.
