Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams has been ruled out for Saturday’s decisive Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs due to a lingering left hamstring strain.
Williams has battled the hamstring injury throughout the playoffs. He initially suffered a Grade 1 left hamstring strain in the first round against the Phoenix Suns, missing significant time before returning for Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. He re-aggravated the injury in Game 2, forcing him to miss the next three games.
Jalen Williams out for Thunder’s Game 7 vs Spurs
As per a report by Shams Charania:
“Oklahoma City Thunder's Jalen Williams has been ruled out for Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs.”
The absence of Williams, a key two-way contributor and All-Star-caliber player for the top-seeded Thunder, comes as the series returns to Paycom Center for a winner-take-all matchup. Oklahoma City will look to advance to the NBA Finals without one of its top scorers and defenders against a surging Spurs team led by Victor Wembanyama.
In Thursday’s Game 6 loss in San Antonio, Williams made a limited return, playing just 10 minutes off the bench and scoring one point on 0-for-1 shooting. Head coach Mark Daigneault had expressed uncertainty about Williams’ availability for Game 7 based on how his body responded post-game.
The Thunder dropped Game 6 118-91, allowing the Spurs to force the series to 3-3. Wembanyama and the Spurs dominated, particularly in the third quarter, exposing some of OKC’s depth issues when Williams is sidelined.
Williams has been a vital piece of Oklahoma City’s rotation this postseason when healthy, providing scoring, playmaking, and perimeter defense that complements star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and big man Chet Holmgren. His absence will likely force heavier minutes for players like Isaiah Hartenstein, Cason Wallace, or others in the wing rotation as the Thunder attempt to close out the series at home.
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