OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams was sidelined for the remainder of Game 2 against San Antonio in Wednesday night’s Western Conference finals matchup due to recurring hamstring troubles.
The Thunder described Williams’ condition as hamstring tightness, marking another setback for the player who had previously sat out six playoff games with a strained left hamstring.
During the first half, Williams was observed receiving treatment for his hamstring before departing the bench area and missing the entire second quarter.
When the second half began, Cason Wallace took Williams’ starting position, and Oklahoma City officials soon confirmed that Williams would not return to the game.
Williams had made his comeback in Game 1 of this series against the Spurs, contributing 26 points over 37 minutes during Monday night’s 122-115 double-overtime defeat in Oklahoma City. In Wednesday’s contest, he managed four points in seven first-quarter minutes, highlighted by an alley-oop dunk with 2:12 remaining in the opening period.
The series continues Friday in San Antonio for Game 3.
Prior to Wednesday’s game, Williams had been absent for 55 of Oklahoma City’s first 91 games this season, including playoff contests. These missed games stemmed from multiple injury issues: 19 games due to a right wrist problem and 36 games related to hamstring injuries — with the right hamstring causing 30 regular season absences and the left hamstring responsible for his most recent six playoff game absence.
