Both Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Clippers players were left visibly shaken Sunday night as Jalen Williams suffered a gruesome ankle injury with 1:14 left to play.
‘Just feel bad for him,’ an emotional Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said in a postgame interview about his Thunder teammate. ‘Nothing more than that.’
Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault addressed reporters after the 108-101 win, saying the team would update the media on Williams’ condition Monday.
‘We’re not doing great,’ a clearly deflated Daigneault told reporters about his team’s morale.
Williams was driving to his left when he split Clippers defenders Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr. in midair. Although there wasn’t hard contact, Williams nonetheless came twisting down to the court, where he landed on his own bent ankle.
As Clippers center Book Lopez looked away in horror, Williams silently glanced down at his own crooked ankle before covering his mouth with his hands and wailing in pain.
WARNING – GRAPHIC CONTENT
Jalen Williams was driving to his left against Clippers defenders Kris Dunn before the injury
Thunder medical staff rushed onto the court in Oklahoma City before loading Williams onto a cart as his shaken teammates looked on in disbelief. Trainers wisely covered is injury in towels
Williams was in visible pain after crashing to the court in Oklahoma City on Sunday night
Thunder medical staff rushed onto the court in Oklahoma City before loading Williams onto a cart as his shaken teammates looked on in disbelief. Trainers wisely covered is injury in towels while he was being evaluated.
Williams did give the crowd two thumbs up as he was stretchered off the floor.
‘Our whole city will have JDub in our thoughts and prayers as he deals with this adversity and as he makes his way through his recovery,’ Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt wrote in a social media post.
A 25-year-old swingman who was a key member of the Thunder’s 2025 NBA championship, Williams has received both All-Star and All-NBA honors over his five-year career.
The 6ft 5in Denver native has been a key defender, often guarding opponents’ best perimeter player, while averaging 18 points a night over 237 regular-season games.
Williams gave the crowd two thumbs up as he was stretchered off the floor in Oklahoma City
Williams gets a round of applause as he’s removed from the court on Sunday night
Williams signed a five-year, $287 million extension after the 2025 championship season, but was limited to just 33 games last season amid a wave of injuries as the Thunder were eliminated in the Western Conference Finals.
Heading into the 2026-27 season, Williams finally appeared to be healthy.
‘He just loves playing, loves the competition,’ Gilgeous-Alexander said. ‘That’s who he is…. It’s unfortunate, his luck so far. But he’s equipped for it.’
Next up for the 3-0 Thunder is Monday night’s game against the visiting Phoenix Suns.
‘We don’t have a choice,’ Gilgeous-Alexander said when asked about bouncing back from Sunday’s disappointment.
‘It’s what we signed up for. It’s obviously going to be tough without a player like that. He’s not gone forever. He’ll be back better than ever. We know it. We’ve just got to hold the fort down until he comes back.’
