Jalen

Williams

J-Dub was Oklahoma City’s top scorer in their home opener, leading the team with 21 points while shooting just under 50 percent from the field. Williams, who appeared in just 33 games last season, looked much sharper than he did in Tuesday’s season-opening win over the Spurs. If he stays healthy, J-Dub should deliver a top-50 season to fantasy managers at a minimum.

After sitting out Tuesday’s preseason opener, Williams logged 19 minutes in the first half on Wednesday. While he missed all three of his three-point attempts, J-Dub was a perfect 8-of-8 from inside the arc. Limited to 33 games last season due to injury, Williams is a high-level fantasy option when healthy. He appeared in 69 games or more in each of his first three seasons, so fantasy managers shouldn’t worry too much about Williams’ availability going into drafts.

J-Dub missed a lot of time with a right hamstring injury during the regular season last year, and then he injured his left one during the postseason. However, after a full offseason to recover, Williams appears poised to bounce back after a frustrating season that started with him missing time with a wrist injury. He is a fantasy star when healthy and should be ready to make a big impact this season.

In Game 6, J-Dub returned from a left hamstring injury that he aggravated during Game 2 of the series. Initially injured during the first round, he played just 10 minutes and was ruled out for Saturday’s Game 7 loss to the Spurs. However, before the season-ending defeat, Daigneault made it clear that Williams did not suffer a setback during his brief Game 6 appearance. He did not go through the standard return-to-play protocols, and it was clear that Williams was not his usual self. “He didn’t do a full return to play, obviously,” Daigneault said. “We knew he wouldn’t be a full 100 percent. He, or we, didn’t know what that would look like and what he’d be able to do when he got out in the game. The only way to find out was to get him out there.” He should be good to go when training camp opens in late September, and fantasy managers hope that J-Dub will be more available than he was this season. He appeared in just 33 regular-season games, not making his debut until late November after undergoing offseason wrist surgery.

After missing Games 3, 4 and 5 of the Western Conference Finals, J-Dub made his return to action in Thursday’s Game 6. The forward came off the bench and looked like a shell of himself in the 10 minutes that he played. With Ajay Mitchell (calf) also out, Jared McCain will remain in the starting lineup. After scoring 20 points in Game 5, McCain was limited to 13 in Game 6.

Williams had a rough go of it in his first action since Game 2 of this series. The 25-year-old small forward had one point in 10 minutes and was -18. Williams was clearly playing at less than 100 percent and giving the Thunder what he could. Coach Mark Daigneault said after the game that the Thunder will see how Williams feels about playing Game 7.

Williams hasn’t played since injuring his hamstring in Game 2 of the series. He was questionable again for Game 6, but was ultimately ruled in. Jared McCain had 20 points in Game 5 and will start again. Williams won’t start and it’s unclear how many minutes the Thunder might allow him to play off the bench.

Williams is questionable, yet again, ahead of OKC’s Game 6 matchup with San Antonio. He has not played since injuring his hamstring in Game 2, but if available, he’ll provide the Thunder with exceptional two-way ability as a wing scorer and defender. Jared McCain, who scored 20 points in Game 5, will likely remain as the replacement starter if Williams is unable to play.

McCain’s insertion into the opening unit didn’t necessarily lead to a fast start individually — he logged only two points of 1-of-5 shooting over the first two quarters. However, he would proceed to score nine points in each of the third and fourth quarters to finish as one of three Thunder players to reach the 20-point mark. There’s no telling when Jalen Williams (hamstring) or Ajay Mitchell (calf) will return from injuries. Regardless, McCain’s production in this series should keep him firmly in the nightly rotation with a large role.

Williams’ third straight absence puts the Thunder in a tougher spot, as they’ll also be without Ajay Mitchell (calf). Williams hasn’t played since Game 2 of the series, logging just seven first-quarter minutes before being ruled out the rest of the way. His presence will be missed, placing extra importance on players such as Jared McCain, Cason Wallace, and Isaiah Joe to fill the void in production for a Thunder team looking to protect homecourt and take a 3-2 series lead.