NBA Playoffs: Thunder Loses a Key Player in Their Second Win Against the Suns

The Oklahoma City Thunder could once again be without their All-Star Jalen Williams. The forward left the court Wednesday night during a 120-107 win over the Phoenix Suns, giving the Thunder a 2-0 lead in this first-round playoff series.

NBA

– Round 1

Oklahoma City Thunder 120

Phoenix Suns 107

An Injury That Brings Back Bad Memories

Williams was injured in the middle of the third quarter after missing a fastbreak layup. He immediately grabbed his left hamstring and signaled to the bench with 6:26 remaining in the third quarter. According to observers, he appeared to say « left hammy » toward the bench.

The former first-round pick attempted to keep playing for a few possessions before asking to come out himself at 5:53 remaining in the quarter. He headed straight to the locker room for further evaluation and never returned to the game.

Jalen Williams left Game 2 vs. the Suns with an apparent hamstring injury. pic.twitter.com/P47wjF0c9T

— ESPN (@espn) April 23, 2026

A Thunder in Control Despite Everything

Even before J-Dub’s exit, OKC had already taken control in a largely dominant performance. After a balanced first quarter, the Thunder gradually imposed their pace, driven by their defensive aggression and ability to push in transition.

The second quarter marked a turning point, with the gap widening under the leadership of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The reigning MVP dictated the tempo once again, mixing drives and mid-range shots to keep the Suns’ defense on its heels. At halftime, the home side already held a comfortable lead, while still appearing capable of shifting into a higher gear.

After the break, Phoenix attempted to respond, but never truly threatened to shake the Thunder’s foundation. Even after their teammate’s exit, Mark Daigneault’s players kept their composure. Ball movement remained fluid and outside shooting helped contain the Suns’ rare scoring runs.

With 37 points, SGA once again carried his team, confirming the gap in level between the two sides through the early stages of the series. Around him, the supporting cast stepped up, with several players capable of taking over offensively and maintaining consistent intensity.

On the other side, the Suns showed more fight than in Game 1, but still struggled to compete over the long haul. Too reliant on individual plays and less impactful defensively, they never managed to truly shift the game’s momentum.

SHAI COOKING AND POINTING AT DILLON BROOKS 🍿 pic.twitter.com/RyB8tCCXOe

— ESPN (@espn) April 23, 2026

Outstanding Performances Despite the Injuries

Despite his early exit, Williams once again shone with 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting and four assists in just 23 minutes of play. These numbers build on his excellent Game 1, where he put up 22 points, seven rebounds and six assists in the Thunder’s dominant win.

This new left hamstring injury is particularly concerning for Williams, who played only 33 games during the regular season due to various injuries. He had already missed 49 games this season with a right hamstring strain, as well as the first 19 games of the season while recovering from right wrist surgery performed after last season’s NBA championship run.

The 27-year-old, named to the All-NBA Third Team last season, had already played through the previous playoffs with a torn scapholunate ligament in his right wrist, delaying surgery until after the title run. That resilience will be tested once again as the Thunder head to Phoenix with a comfortable series lead.

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