The Thunder have listed Jalen Williams as questionable for Tuesday’s critical Game 5 against the Spurs, tweets Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman.
Williams’ official injury designation is left hamstring strain injury management. He has missed the past two games due to the left hamstring issue, which he first strained on April 22 in Game 2 of Oklahoma City’s first-round series vs. Phoenix. He was absent for the entire second-round sweep of the Lakers due to that injury, which he aggravated in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals vs. San Antonio.
While Williams, a 2024/25 All-Star and All-NBA wing, has a chance to play on Tuesday, the defending champions have already ruled out Ajay Mitchell, who injured his right calf in the third quarter of Game 3. The second-year guard, who also missed Game 4, is dealing with a right soleus strain.
The Thunder struggled to score in Sunday’s Game 4 loss without two of their main offensive initiators, putting extra pressure on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder will host the Spurs on Tuesday with the series tied at two games apiece.
The Spurs are banged up as well, with De’Aaron Fox playing through a right ankle sprain and Dylan Harper battling through right adductor soreness. Neither player is on Tuesday’s injury report even though they’re both less than 100%, per Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News (Twitter link).
Giannis for JDub and picks
Drop Hartenstein
That’s funny – I hate OKC but Hartenstine is the only reason this series isn’t 3-1. No great young team is going to be dumb enough to trade for Giannis.