Injuries to Jalen Williams, Luka Doncic won't dampen Thunder-Lakers NBA Playoffs series

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Isaiah Hartenstein were already racing up the floor for a potential fastbreak. All Jalen Williams had to do was scoop up the loose ball, which was well within the reach of his 7-foot-2 wingspan. But his sprint quickly turned into a light jog, as he purposely let it roll out of bounds.

It just didn't feel right to capitalize on the misfortune of Luka Dončić , who lost possession when he drove on Williams and pulled his left hamstring during the Los Angeles Lakers' road game against the OKC Thunder on April 2. Especially after Williams had dealt with his own nagging hamstring injury all season . "It's very spooky in a way to see it happen to him and I'm the one guarding him," Williams said after the game.

"I could've taken off with the ball, but I tried to let it go out of bounds and give them time to figure it out just because that injury sucks. " Dončić's injury ultimately proved to be a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, which he's still recovering from one month later. And Williams has since sustained another hamstring injury of his own, this time a Grade 1 left hamstring strain .

Thunder vs Lakers: Who has the edge in Western Conference semifinals? That leaves the availability of both stars in question for the second-round playoff series between the Thunder and Lakers , which begins at 7:30 p. m.