Jalen Williams has been out since Game 2 of the Thunder’s first-round matchup with Phoenix.
The Thunder open the Western Conference Finals against San Antonio (LIVE, ESPN) with a major boost to the already-imposing lineup:
Jalen Williams is available and starting after missing the team’s last six games due to injury, including the entire conference semifinals sweep of the Lakers.
JDub is BACK!
Catch his return to the court in Game 1 of the NBA Conference Finals presented by @Google at 8:30pm/et on NBC and Peacock 🍿 pic.twitter.com/G9vM2Lzw6i
— NBA (@NBA) May 18, 2026
This season, Williams has averaged 17.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.5 assists while shooting 29.9% from 3-point range and 48.4% overall across 33 games.
Williams missed 55 of the Thunder’s first 90 games this season entering Monday, including playoffs. Of those absences, 19 were for a right wrist issue and the other 36 were related to his hamstrings — the right one costing him 30 games during the regular season, the left one costing him the most recent six before Monday in this playoff run.
Ajay Mitchell filled in seamlessly during the six playoff games that Williams missed, taking the vacated starting spot and averaging 21.2 points — second-best on the team in that span, behind only two-time reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — on 48% shooting.
The Thunder entered Monday 27-8 when Williams plays this season, 45-10 when he doesn’t.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
