For the first time all year, the thought of the Oklahoma City Thunder being bounced from the NBA playoffs has crept into the heads of most. The reigning NBA champion’s health situation didn’t improve. Playing every other day in the 2026 Western Conference Finals gives them little room to breathe.
Because of that, the Thunder could be short-handed in a pivotal Game 5. Jalen Williams remains questionable with hamstring strain injury management. Ajay Mitchell has already been ruled out for a second consecutive game due to a soleus strain.
For those wondering why Williams’ designation changed from hamstring soreness to hamstring strain injury management, it’s because you can only have someone out for a certain number of games due to soreness. Nothing has actually changed about the injury. Just purely semantics to follow league rules.
Uh oh. The Thunder were without Williams and Mitchell in their Game 4 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. It was the most lopsided contest as OKC only put up a measly 82 points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander only had 19 points and seven assists as they struggled to generate quality halfcourt offense.
The Thunder could enter Game 5 under similar circumstances. Williams’ status could make or break their chances to get an important 3-2 series lead. If he’s out, then good luck to Gilgeous-Alexander and the rest of OKC’s role players at generating offense against San Antonio.
Just a brutal reminder that you need as much luck as talent to win an NBA championship. Right now, things look bleak for the Thunder if Williams and Mitchell both miss another game together. OKC just doesn’t have adequate secondary ball-handlers and go-to scorers to make up the difference.
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Jalen Williams’, Ajay Mitchell’s Spurs-Thunder Game 5 statuses revealed