05/20/26 11:14:00
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05/20 23:13 CDT OKC guard Jalen Williams' hamstring issues return, he leaves
Game 2 of Thunder-Spurs early
OKC guard Jalen Williams' hamstring issues return, he leaves Game 2 of
Thunder-Spurs early
By TIM REYNOLDS
AP Basketball Writer
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) --- Thunder guard Jalen Williams, who missed six games
earlier in these playoffs with a strained left hamstring, was ruled out for the
second half of Game 2 of Oklahoma City's matchup against the San Antonio Spurs
in the Western Conference finals on Wednesday night.
The reason: Another hamstring problem, which the Thunder called tightness.
Williams appeared to be getting treatment on the hamstring during the first
half, then left the bench area and did not play in the second quarter.
Television footage showed him walking toward the locker room holding a large
wrap on the back of his left leg.
Cason Wallace started the second half in Williams' place, and the Thunder
announced that Williams wouldn't return not long afterward. Thunder coach Mark
Daigneault said Williams would be evaluated on Thursday.
"He's going to get checked out," Daigneault said after Oklahoma City's 122-113
win that evened the series at a game apiece. "I don't deal in like
hypotheticals, especially when doctors are involved. ... We'll see where he's
at. We'll update him accordingly."
Williams returned for Game 1 of the Spurs' series, scoring 26 points in 37
minutes on Monday night in Oklahoma City's 122-115 double-overtime loss. He had
four points in seven first-quarter minutes Wednesday, including an alley-oop
dunk with 2:12 left in the period.
Game 3 of the series is Friday in San Antonio.
Williams missed 55 of the Thunder's first 91 games this season entering
Wednesday, including playoffs. Of those absences, 19 were for a right wrist
issue and the other 36 were related to his hamstrings --- the right one costing
him 30 games during the regular season, the left one costing him the most
recent six during the playoffs.
"Obviously, if we don't have him, it hurts," Thunder guard Shai
Gilgeous-Alexander said after the game. "I still believe in this team though.
We've played a bunch of games without him, won big games without him. I still
think we'll get the job done. But losing a guy ... no matter how good your team
is otherwise it hurts a little bit. And for him, just like as a human being,
he's had a tough year with injuries."
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