Jalen Williams plays in Game 1 after missing conference semifinals

Jalen Williams has been out since Game 2 of the Thunder’s first-round matchup with Phoenix.

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The Thunder open the

Western Conference Finals

against San Antoniowith 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.

Though Williams finished with 26 points (11-25 FGs), 7 rebounds and 3 assists in 37 minutes, the Thunder lost to the Spurs,

122-115

in double overtime.

TAKE OFF DUB‼️

pic.twitter.com/e4KWTYxbSh

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder)

May 19, 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. It’s now 27-9.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.