Jalen Williams Returns: Thunder Get Boost for Playoff Push
Jalen Williams returned to the Oklahoma City Thunder lineup Monday night, scoring 18 points in a 123-103 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers after a 16-game absence due to injury. The All-NBA swingman’s return comes as the Thunder maintain the NBA’s best record at 54-26.
Williams has endured a challenging 2025-26 season, initially sidelined for the first 19 games following two surgeries to repair a torn scapholunate ligament in his wrist – an injury sustained during last year’s postseason. He then suffered two separate hamstring strains, further delaying his return to full playing capacity. Monday’s game marked his 27th appearance of the season.
Despite the setbacks, Williams expressed gratitude for the support he’s received from his teammates. “I wouldn’t say ‘frustrating’ is the word. I consider if I were on a different team, I’d be more frustrated. But I’m around good energy, as you guys can spot. I think that’s been one of the things that have kept me going. I’ve been trying to leverage it as a positive, too,” Williams said after the game. He also noted positive developments with his wrist, stating, “My wrist has felt a lot better than it ever has. I think that was a big hurdle during the season. I’ve been able to kinda obtain over it. Back to what it was like.”
The Thunder have demonstrated a remarkable ability to win even while key players are sidelined, a factor Williams believes has eased his rehabilitation process. “I think it’s going to complete up being a blessing in disguise, a little bit. It’s going to give us a little more urgency to kinda figure out how to play with all of the guys. I think it’s also one of the coolest things about the team is that we have an issue because of our depth,” Williams explained. “I don’t think we’ve all played together yet. I think that gets taken for granted because we’re really good, but it’s definitely one of those hurdles we have to get over.”
Williams’ return is particularly timely as the Thunder navigate the final 10 games of the regular season. They are currently vying for the top seed in the Western Conference with the San Antonio Spurs. He acknowledged underestimating the impact of his extended absence, saying, “I think the part I underestimated was more how many games I was missing. I think when you look at it from the lens of, ‘I just won,’ you’re really excited about winning. And then when I got to the part where I had to have my second surgery, it was a little more real for me. I was only supposed to miss five games, and I ended up missing like 20, just to make sure it’s correct.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 22 points to the Thunder’s total, extending his streak of games with at least 20 points to 132. Jared McCain, recently traded from the 76ers, contributed 13 points in his return to Philadelphia. The Thunder’s winning streak now stands at 12 games, the longest active streak in the NBA.