Shai-Gilgeous Alexander scored 34 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder remained undefeated, but they lost All-Star guard Jalen Williams to what appeared to be a serious leg injury in their 108-101 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night.
Oklahoma City won its third straight game to start the season, but lost three players to injury, including Williams, who fell hard on a drive to the basket with 1:14 left. The guard’s left leg gave way when he landed and his foot bent at an unnatural angle. The 25-year-old left the field on a stretcher with towels covering his injured leg. He covered his mouth with his hands as he looked at the injury while Gilgeous Alexander and players from both teams looked in shock.
“We’re not doing very well,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said after the game. He added that the team would be informed of the injury on Monday.
Gilgeous-Alexander was in tears while talking about Williams after the match.
“I just feel bad for him,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It’s obviously going to be difficult without a player like that. But he’s not gone forever. He’ll come back better than ever, and we know that. We just have to hold the fort until he comes back.”
Williams missed 49 games last season due to various injuries, but played a key role in the Thunder’s 2025 title campaign.
Thunder guard Cason Wallace (left shoulder soreness) and forward Jaylin Williams (right wrist soreness) left the game in the first quarter and did not return.
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