Jalen Williams was ruled out for Game 5 of the Western Conference finals with a strained left hamstring, while Jared McCain made his first playoff start of his career. The Thunder are also without Ajay Mitchell, ruled out earlier with a strained right soleus.
Oklahoma City started Game 5 with a decision that felt immediate, and not just for the scoreboard. Jalen Williams was downgraded to out by the Thunder on Tuesday night after spending the day listed as questionable with ongoing issues from a strained left hamstring.
The move came after Williams had already been absent for stretches of this postseason. He returned for Game 1 of the Spurs’ series. scoring 26 points in 37 minutes in Oklahoma City’s 122-115 double-overtime loss a week ago Monday night. But his impact in Game 2 was brief: he scored four points in seven first-quarter minutes. including an alley-oop dunk with 2:12 left in the period. After that, he didn’t play again.
With Williams sidelined, Ajay Mitchell—who typically starts in his place—was also ruled out earlier by the Thunder. Mitchell’s issue is a strained right soleus.
Oklahoma City then leaned on Jared McCain. inserting him into the starting lineup alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Chet Holmgren. Isaiah Hartenstein and Lugentz Dort. McCain was making the first playoff start of his career. Entering Tuesday, he averaged 8.8 points in 12 playoff games off the bench for the Thunder.
The hamstring situation has been a recurring barrier for Williams all season. He has now missed 58 of the Thunder’s 95 games this season, including playoffs. Nineteen of those absences were for a right wrist issue. The remaining 39 were related to his hamstrings. The right hamstring cost him 30 games during the regular season. and the left one has now cost him nine during the playoffs.
So Game 5 arrived with a familiar tension around Oklahoma City’s rotation: the lineup could change at any moment. and it did again. With Williams out and Mitchell sidelined. the Thunder are counting on their starting five to absorb the physical and emotional weight of losing one more key player during a run where every minute is magnified.
Jalen Williams Jared McCain Oklahoma City Thunder Game 5 Western Conference finals Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Chet Holmgren Isaiah Hartenstein Lugentz Dort Ajay Mitchell hamstring injury
hamstrings are always the worst lol
So Jalen got hurt again right? Like how is he even still playing at all if he’s missing that many games… that seems crazy. I didn’t even realize the other guy was out too.
Jared McCain starting game 5 is wild, but also kinda makes sense if they’re down. I swear I’ve seen that hamstring thing blamed on everything, like hydration or whatever. If he averages 8.8 off the bench… doesn’t that mean they’re cooked? Idk.
Wait I’m confused—didn’t Jalen Williams come back for Game 1 and score like 26? Then in Game 2 he only got 4 points and then just sat. Now it’s hamstring again but like on the left now? sports injuries are so random. Also McCain first playoff start?? I feel like this team always has some backup guy pop off and everyone acts shocked.