Is Jalen Williams playing for Thunder against the Spurs on Monday?
Here's what we know about Jalen Williams and whether he might return in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.
It's a testament to the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder 's strength and resilience that they've been as dominant as they have. The Thunder have weathered a host of injuries en route to a 64-win regular season and an 8-0 start to the playoffs, with two decisive sweeps, entering Monday's Western Conference Finals. The most notably injured player has undoubtedly been Jalen Williams, who, after an All-NBA and All-Defense campaign last year, played in just 33 games this season.
Because of lingering hamstring issues for Williams , the Thunder haven't been able to realize their full form and full potential for essentially the entire season. His intermittent absences have sparked a "what if? " sort of conversation in Oklahoma City, given how exceptional the team has been even without him.
That sure seems like it's changing on Monday night against the rival San Antonio Spurs . Officially, Williams isn't listed on the Thunder's injury report. That means, barring an unfortunate last-minute setback, he is expected to play against San Antonio.
It will be Williams' first game since suffering a Grade 1 hamstring strain on April 22, giving him roughly a month of recovery for the injury. This also means the Thunder will be at full strength just as we start the NBA's final four and see them in a matchup against perhaps their biggest foil. Hoo boy, get your popcorn ready: No Jalen Williams on the injury report.