As the Oklahoma City Thunder build up a 1-0 series lead over the Los Angeles Lakers, they’ll continue to roll along without an All-NBA talent. Jalen Williams has been officially ruled out for Thursday’s Game 2. He’s missed four consecutive playoff games with the injury.
Williams sustained the hamstring strain in OKC’s Game 2 win over the Phoenix Suns. Two weeks later, he remains out. In his absence, the Thunder have rattled off three straight playoff wins. Ajay Mitchell has seamlessly stepped up to be their second go-to scorer.
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It’s been an injury-plagued year for Williams. He only played in 33 regular-season games. Two wrist surgeries and two hamstring strains sidelined him for most of the year. Because of that reality, the Thunder have grown an identity of winning basketball without him.
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault revealed on Wednesday that he still hasn’t conducted any high-intensity scrimmages. He was recently spotted at practice putting in work. Feels like he’s still a little while away from a return. He remains week-to-week.
But considering Luka Doncic’s absence, I don’t think the Thunder will necessarily need Williams to return to their Round 2 series over the Lakers. Beyond that, though, the Western Conference Finals and NBA Finals would be a completely different story.
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Jalen Williams’ Lakers-Thunder Game 2 status officially revealed