Thunder rule Jalen Williams out indefinitely with left hamstring strain
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Oklahoma City forward Jalen Williams sustained a left hamstring strain and will be re-examined on a weekly basis, head coach Mark Daigneault said Thursday. Although the setback clouds the Thunder’s playoff outlook, Daigneault called the diagnosis “relatively positive” and confirmed Williams will travel with the team to Phoenix for Friday’s Game 3 rather than remain in Oklahoma City for treatment.
Williams, who battled right-hamstring issues earlier in the season, averaged 20.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists in just 26 minutes during the first two games against the Suns. His availability for a possible second-round series is still uncertain.
Mitchell expected to absorb larger role
With Williams sidelined, second-year guard Ajay Mitchell is in line for an expanded workload. Mitchell produced 14 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals in Game 2 and has impressed the coaching staff with his poise after missing most of his rookie campaign because of injury. Daigneault indicated that while Cason Wallace is likely to start, Mitchell will handle significant minutes off the bench.
Isaiah Joe out for Game 3
Sharpshooter Isaiah Joe will miss Friday’s contest for personal reasons, the team announced. Joe delivered career highs in scoring (11.1 ppg) and three-point accuracy (42.3%) this season, but he has hit only 33.3% of his 7.5 long-range attempts per game in the series and has yet to attempt a two-pointer or free throw.
2007 sign-and-trade still shaping roster
A 19-year-old transaction continues to influence Oklahoma City’s championship push. ESPN noted that the 2007 sign-and-trade sending Rashard Lewis from the then-Seattle SuperSonics to the Orlando Magic created a trade exception the franchise later used to acquire Kurt Thomas and two first-round picks. Those assets eventually helped land Paul George, whose subsequent trade to the Clippers yielded Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and other key pieces on the current roster.
Source: Hoops Rumors
