Thunder Coach Shares Jalen Williams Injury Update After Suns Game
The Oklahoma City Thunder have taken a commanding 2-0 series lead in their first-round matchup against the Phoenix Suns with a 120-107 win in Game 2 at the Paycom Center.
The reigning champions have been one step ahead of their eighth-seeded opponents through the first two games, but suffered a setback during Game 2.
Forward Jalen Williams left the game with a left hamstring injury in the third quarter, missing the last 18 minutes of the game. He seemed to injure it without contact on a fast-break layup attempt, prompting him to foul intentionally to be subbed out of the game.
Williams missed 49 games over the regular season due to issues with the same hamstring, so there is concern regarding the status of the 25-year-old going forward.
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault provided a brief injury update on Williams after the game.
"We think he aggravated his left hamstring. We'll take a look at it in the next couple of days, and we'll update you guys when appropriate."
Williams had scored 19 points on 7-8 field goal shooting in the first half, looking like the All-NBA version of him we saw last season before his injury-riddled 2025-26 campaign. Unfortunately, it seems he'll have to go through that process again.
If the injury is minor, we still likely won't see him return for the first-round series against Phoenix. Given the team's 2-0 advantage and 39-10 record without Williams in the regular season, they will feel confident in closing this series out without the star forward.
The Lakers lost Luka Doncic to a hamstring injury against OKC a few weeks ago, with Doncic still not having returned. If Doncic's mid-April hamstring injury can sideline him until the start of the first round, it doesn't bode well for what status awaits Williams as he recovers.
Ironically, the Lakers might be the Thunder's potential second-round opponents. With this injury luck, the Lakers might get Doncic and Austin Reaves back in time for their matchup against OKC, while the reigning champions might have Williams on the shelf.
Jalen Williams averaged 17.1 points, 5.5 assists and 4.6 rebounds this season. He is a crucial piece to the Thunder's starting five, but the team has had to adjust to playing without him for most of the season.
It might be a bigger problem for them in the second round, so there's no point in speculating on his status until a more concrete update is provided. If Williams doesn't travel with the team to Phoenix for Games 3 and 4, the Thunder will closely examine his injury to have a concrete timetable to ascertain if he can return during the playoffs.
Game 3 is scheduled for Saturday afternoon (3:30 p.m. ET) at the Footprint Center in Phoenix.
Related: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Addresses 17 Free Throws After Thunder's Game 1 Win Over Suns
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This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 3:25 AM.