Jalen Williams Expected Back Monday as Thunder Face Lakers
thunder-jalen-williams-returns-monday
Oklahoma City forward Jalen Williams is slated to play Monday against the Los Angeles Lakers after sitting out the last 10 games with a right hamstring strain. The 24-year-old was absent from the Thunder’s latest injury report, clearing the way for his first appearance since Jan. 17.
Williams’ season has been interrupted twice. He missed the opening weeks while recovering from right wrist surgery and didn’t debut until Nov. 28. He then logged 24 consecutive outings before the hamstring injury struck during a road game in Miami.
Through those 24 contests, the third-year forward averaged 16.8 points, 5.6 assists and 4.8 rebounds in 29.6 minutes, shooting 47.0 percent from the field, 30.0 percent from deep and 83.3 percent at the foul line. The assist number is a career best, but most other figures trail his All-NBA campaign from 2024-25.
Oklahoma City stormed to a 24-1 start and still owns the NBA’s top record, yet recent injuries to Williams and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal strain) have slowed momentum. The Thunder dropped consecutive games to San Antonio and Houston this week and have lost five of their last eight overall.
Following Monday’s matchup at Crypto.com Arena, the club closes its pre-All-Star slate with visits to Phoenix on Wednesday and a home game against Milwaukee on Thursday.
Source: Hoops Rumors
