Williams returns, Thunder hold off Suns for 11th straight victory
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OKLAHOMA CITY — Jalen Williams scored 11 points and handed out eight assists in his first appearance since wrist surgery, helping the Oklahoma City Thunder edge the Phoenix Suns 123-119 on Friday night and clinch a spot in the NBA Cup knockout round.
Playing 29 minutes, the All-Star guard/forward hit 3 of 12 shots as the defending champions extended their winning streak to 11 and became just the fifth team in league history to open a season 19-1. Oklahoma City also finished 4-0 in West Group A.
Williams underwent surgery in July to repair a torn ligament in his right wrist, followed by another procedure to remove an irritating screw. Friday marked his first game action since Game 7 of last season’s Finals nearly six months ago.
“The goal for tonight was to get in a rhythm, but it’s an adjustment,” Williams said. “Offensively it’ll take time. I’ve had two hand surgeries, and I’m still figuring out my jump shot and dribbling.”
Because he missed the season’s first 19 contests, Williams is ineligible for postseason awards and therefore cannot trigger the $287 million supermax escalator in his five-year, $239 million extension.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with 37 points, pouring in 15 over the final seven minutes on 4-of-5 shooting. The performance extended his streak of 20-plus-point games to 92, tying Wilt Chamberlain for the second-longest run in NBA history; Chamberlain also holds the record at 126.
Source: ESPN
