The reigning champions face significant concerns heading into the elimination game, as two key OKC players will be absent for their final showdown with the Spurs.
According to the team led by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, his co-superstar Jalen Williams will once again be sidelined due to ongoing issues stemming from a thigh injury.
Williams, the second-leading scorer behind SGA, had already missed games three through five of the Western Conference Finals and the entire second-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers. The injury that continues to plague him was initially sustained in Game 2 against the Phoenix Suns in the first round.
Only at the start of the Western Conference Finals did ‘J-Dub’ show his best, scoring 26 points in 37 minutes (11/25 FG, 7 assists, 3 rebounds). From Game 2 onwards, his own body once again thwarted his progress. The injury resurfaced in Game 2 and, despite a longer break, clearly limited him in Game 6.
Head Coach Mark Daigneault also emphasized this. «He’s obviously not at 100 percent,» he stated about the All-Star, who recorded only one point and two turnovers in ten minutes during the Thunder’s decisive 91:118 loss in Game 6 of the series.
Williams had previously missed significant portions of the regular season, playing in only 33 games. The 25-year-old had already played through considerable pain in last season’s playoffs with a torn scapholunate ligament in his right wrist, requiring surgery after winning the title. He reported receiving «28 or 29 injections» of lidocaine and cortisone during the playoffs just to be able to play, as ‘J-Dub’ recounted.
After the surgery, he had to take months off and only returned to the court in late November.
OKC Also to Miss Josh Giddey Against the Spurs
Williams is expected to be replaced in the starting five by Jared McCain, who arrived via a surprising trade from the Philadelphia 76ers during the season and averaged 12.6 points per game over the last two playoff rounds. In Game 3 against the Spurs, the rookie even emerged as the match-winner with 24 points.
In addition to Williams, OKC will also continue to be without Josh Giddey for the decisive Game 7 against the San Antonio Spurs. The guard suffered a calf injury in Game 3 against the Spurs and has been sidelined ever since.
Giddey had been playing exceptionally at times, particularly in the semi-final series against the Lakers, scoring 18, 20, 24, and even 28 points in the final game against LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and company. It was already evident during the regular season how much the 23-year-old had developed compared to the previous year.
In 57 games, he averaged 25.8 minutes on the court and scored 13.6 points (48.5 FG%, 3.3 REB, 3.6 AST). In his rookie season, he played 16.6 minutes and scored 6.5 points.