10/25/2026 09:40:00
Printable Page
10/25 21:39 CDT Thunder lose Jalen Williams to serious lower leg injury late in
win over Clippers
Thunder lose Jalen Williams to serious lower leg injury late in win over
Clippers
By TIM REYNOLDS
AP Basketball Writer
Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder was taken off the court on a
stretcher Sunday night, after suffering what a serious injury to his lower left
leg while getting fouled in a scene that moved some of his teammates to the
brink of tears.
He was injured while being fouled on a drive with 1:14 remaining of Oklahoma
City's game against the Los Angeles Clippers, getting tended to almost
immediately by medical personnel after going down underneath the basket on the
Thunder's offensive end.
Williams' ankle was draped by towels and players from both teams acted in
immediate dismay as the stretcher was brought out. The game was stopped for
about five minutes, and the Thunder went on to finish a 108-101 victory.
"Just feel bad for him," Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said in a
postgame televised interview, fighting back tears as he spoke. "Nothing more
than that."
There was no immediate diagnosis from the Thunder, though it was obvious that
the injury was severe --- and the stretcher was called for within just a few
seconds of the play ending. Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said the team
would be briefed Monday morning with the latest updates on Williams' condition.
"We're not doing great," Daigneault said.
Williams --- a shooting guard who entered Sunday having averaged 18 points per
game in his first 250 NBA contests --- has been an All-Star and an All-NBA
player already in his career, plus was a huge part of the Thunder team that won
the 2025 NBA title. He missed 49 games last season with an array of issues,
mostly hamstring problems and recovery from a significant surgery on his right
wrist.
"He just loves playing, loves the competition," Gilgeous-Alexander said.
"That's who he is. ... It's unfortunate, his luck so far. But he's equipped for
it."
The Thunder play again Monday night at home against Phoenix. The schedule gives
Oklahoma City little choice but to try and move on somewhat quickly, Daigneault
said.
"We don't have a choice," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "It's what we signed up for.
It's obviously going to be tough without a player like that. He's not gone
forever. He'll be back better than ever. We know it. We've just got to hold the
fort down until he comes back."
___
See AP's full NBA coverage here
|
