Oklahoma City Thunder star Jalen Williams left the game against the Miami Heat during the second quarter with an apparent leg injury. While concerning, recent updates may provide more reason for the Thunder franchise to be worried moving forward.
According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, Jalen Williams has been diagnosed with a right hamstring injury. To make matters worse, the Thunder have not provided any information on the severity of the injury or a potential timeline for return, insinuating that Williams could be sidelined indefinitely.
This could have major implications for OKC, which suffered its eighth loss of the season after a 122-120 result against the Heat. With Williams out of the lineup, the Heat capitalized on the Thunder’s relatively weakened perimeter defense.
Williams missed the first month of the regular season while recovering from wrist surgery. With averages of 16.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game while shooting 47.0% from the field and 30.0% from three-point range, the Thunder guard has struggled to find his groove.
Although he’d found some consistency recently, his last two outings were quite underwhelming, recording single-digit scoring in both.
On that note, the game against Miami seemed promising as Jalen Williams started the game strong, posting eight points on 3-5 shooting from the field, adding three rebounds and three assists to his performance. Unfortunately, with the guard now sidelined for what could be an extended period, returning to familiar form may prove to be a greater challenge.
Can OKC Adapt To Playing Without Jalen Williams?
Losing Jalen Williams will undoubtedly have an impact on the team’s performance, as witnessed in the result against the Miami Heat. Given his role in the rotation as an elite two-way player, not having the star could leave OKC relatively shorthanded.
At the start of the campaign, the Thunder adapted to playing without Williams quite well. OKC’s roster depth has been one of its greatest strengths. While embracing the “next man up” mentality, the Thunder saw players like Ajay Mitchell, Cason Wallace, and Isaiah Joe step up and embrace a larger role, helping OKC assert its position as the top team in the West.
In Jalen Williams’ absence, the Thunder posted a noteworthy 18-1 record. Since then, however, OKC has looked like a different team. After suffering losses to teams like the San Antonio Spurs and the Charlotte Hornets, the Thunder don’t seem invincible.
Despite posting a 7-3 record over their last 10 games, OKC remains the top team in the West, firmly securing its position with a 35-8 record on the season. Although the team is more than capable of adapting to Williams’ absence, the Thunder are more likely to be concerned with how soon the guard will be able to find his feet again once he returns.
