Sources: Thunder star Jalen Williams to return vs. 76ers
Oklahoma City Thunder star ahead Jalen Williams is off the harm report and can return for Monday’s highway sport in opposition to the Philadelphia 76ers after lacking the final five-plus weeks due to a strained proper hamstring, sources advised ESPN on Sunday.
Williams, who has twice strained the hamstring this season, comes again with 11 video games remaining within the common season.
Injuries have restricted Williams, a third-team All-NBA choice final season, to solely 26 video games this season. The Thunder are hopeful that Williams might be in a position to set up a rhythm getting into the playoffs.
Williams missed the primary 19 video games whereas recovering from surgical procedure on his proper wrist, which he injured within the remaining week of the 2024-25 common season. He delayed the operation to restore a torn scapholunate ligament in his taking pictures wrist till after the playoffs, averaging 21.4 factors, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists per sport throughout the Thunder’s championship run regardless of requiring frequent pain-killing injections in his wrist. He has struggled to regain his taking pictures type, averaging 17.5 factors per sport whereas taking pictures a career-low 31.3% from 3-point vary this season.
Williams first strained his hamstring throughout a Jan. 17 highway loss to the Miami Heat. He missed the subsequent 10 video games, returning for a Feb. 9 highway win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
However, Williams aggravated the pressure two nights later, prematurely ending a spectacular particular person efficiency in a Feb. 11 highway win over the Phoenix Suns. I scored 28 factors on 11-of-12 taking pictures in 20 minutes earlier than cleansing off the ground.
The Thunder have a league-best 56-15 file, together with an 11-game profitable streak since reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returned from an stomach pressure. Oklahoma City has had the second-most missed video games due to accidents, trailing solely the Memphis Grizzliesin accordance to ESPN Research.
The Thunder’s projected beginning lineup of Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, Lu Dort, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein you’ve performed simply 5 video games collectively this season.
