The Oklahoma City Thunder will be without guard/forward Jalen Williams for at least the near future after he suffered a right hamstring strain, the team said Monday.
According to the club, the 6-foot-6 swingman will be “reevaluated in a couple of weeks.” Williams was injured during the second quarter of Saturday’s 122-120 defeat in Miami, leaving the court while clutching his right leg. Initial reports listed the issue as right thigh soreness, but further testing confirmed the hamstring strain.
Williams, 24, is averaging 16.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists this season. The former first-time All-Star earned All-Defensive Second Team and All-NBA Third Team honors last year and has helped Oklahoma City compile an NBA-best 35-8 record in its title defense.
This marks Williams’ second extended absence of the campaign. He missed the first month while recovering from offseason wrist surgery stemming from an injury sustained during last season’s championship run. Since returning in late November, he had started all 24 games before the latest setback.
Head coach Mark Daigneault is expected to lean more heavily on second-year guard Ajay Mitchell during Williams’ absence. Mitchell has averaged 14.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists off the bench, ranking among the league’s most productive reserves.
Source: ESPN
