Oklahoma City’s All-NBA and All-Defensive wings haven’t seen the court since the opening round and will be needed in the Conference Finals.
The Thunder will not only benefit from one of its top players returning, but also need him back on the floor to complete its ultimate goal once again.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are preparing for the Western Conference Finals, where they will face the winner of the San Antonio Spurs or the Minnesota Timberwolves. This series has gone the distance, giving OKC crucial rest before they go into a rock fight in the next round. Another potential silver lining for Oklahoma City: this rest period could be exactly what they need to get one of their best players back in action.
The Thunder Await the Return of Jalen Williams
Thunder star Jalen Williams has not played a second since Game 2 of the first round. He has missed the last six games due to a left hamstring strain, and Oklahoma City has been very cautious, making sure he takes his time returning. Oklahoma City has had minimal resistance in reaching the Western Conference Finals without him, but it won’t be the case moving forward.
The Timberwolves and, especially, the Spurs are both teams loaded with talent and will be a clear step up in competition compared to the first two rounds for the Thunder. Emphasizing the need for Williams’ return, who looked as good as he had all year, before the injury.
In his first two playoff games, Williams was averaging 20.5 points per game as well as five assists and four rebounds in only 26 minutes a game. The do-it-all wing was uber-efficient as well, shooting 61.5% from the floor.
Of course, we know the big moments Williams had during last year’s title run, which included a signature performance, where he had 34 points in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals. And then, the best performance of his early career, scoring 40 points on a torn wrist in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
Other Thunder players have stepped up in Williams’s absence, most notably Ajay Mitchell, who has not only done an excellent job of filling in but has ascended during this span as a starter. And with Williams’s return, this might benefit Oklahoma City in a multitude of ways.
The Spurs are likely looking to be OKC’s next opponent in the Conference Finals, as they lead the series 3-2 and look to close it out tonight. Their lineup could force the Thunder to put out their version of the “death lineup”.
San Antonio’s starting lineup with Victor Wembanyama as the lone big could pose a problem, as it did during their earlier-season matchups. Causing lineup changes for OKC. Now, when Williams returns, and the rhythm and confidence Mitchell is playing with, don’t be surprised if both of them are starting.
The Thunder are the first defending champions since the 2019 Warriors to advance past the second round, and they have the opportunity to become the first team to repeat since the 2017 and 2018 Golden State teams.
Main Image: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
