PHOENIX — The perfect trip looked to be culminating in a perfect night.
Everything was going right during Jalen Williams’ return to the state of Arizona, where he spent most of his childhood. And it all started on Tuesday in Gilbert, when he got his jersey number retired at Perry High in front of his family, friends and Thunder teammates.
Williams was then in the midst of a perfect game during OKC’s 136-109 win over Phoenix on Wednesday. The All-NBA forward racked up 28 points in 20 minutes on 11-for-11 shooting from the field. It was the best he’d looked all season after missing the first 19 games due to a right shooting wrist injury and another 10 games due to a right hamstring strain.
But then things took a turn for the worse. Williams missed a layup with 4:09 left in the third quarter, and he subbed out soon afterwards while grabbing his right hamstring. He then kicked the bench in frustration before walking into the tunnel, and he didn’t return to the game.
An update has not yet been provided on Williams. It put a damper on a strong performance by OKC (42-13), which has one more game remaining before the All-Star break.
Here are three takeaways from the win:
Order new book on Thunder’s run to NBA title
Isaiah Hartenstein, Jaylin Williams embraced larger playmaking roles
All-Star weekend doesn’t start until Friday, but Isaiah Hartenstein clearly didn’t get the memo.
The 7-foot center put on a show early in the second quarter during a give-and-go play with Isaiah Joe. Instead of the handing the ball off the tradition way, he hiked it between his own legs and into the hands of his sharpshooting teammate, who drilled the 3-pointer.
Hartenstein’s passing prowess is nothing new, but OKC has leaned on it even more while playmaking guards Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Ajay Mitchell are out due to abdominal strains. The Thunder has also ran its offense through backup big man Jaylin Williams, who has good court vision as well.
Hartenstein is averaging 6.8 assists in 22 minutes through five games this month. Williams is averaging three assists in 23.8 minutes through six games.
OKC has lethal sharpshooting duo of Isaiah Joe, Jared McCain off bench
Even on a cloudy February night, Phoenix couldn’t avoid the heat.
It felt it whenever Joe and Jared McCain checked into the game. Both bench players were quick to catch a hot hand, and they torched the net with a lethal display of long-range shooting.
Joe caught a pass midway through the second quarter and pulled up 29 feet away from the rim, although it might as well have been from Tucson. The distance didn’t matter. And neither did the defense by Royce O’Neale, who fouled Joe but still watched the ball go through the hoop for a four-point play.
McCain then gathered a pass from the same spot a few minutes later, and he also released a high-arcing shot over his defender. The 27-foot deep bomb hit its mark, silencing a stunned Mortgage Matchup Center crowd.
Joe finished with 21 points on 6-for-8 shooting from deep in only 18 minutes. McCain added 12 points on 2-for-3 shooting from deep in 22 minutes.
The duo continues to play well off of each other since McCain joined the team via a trade with Philadelphia on Feb. 4. It has a combined plus/minus of 69 in the three games since then.
NBA All-Star break can’t come soon enough for Thunder
Gilgeous-Alexander and Mitchell have missed the last four games and 10 games, respectively, due to an abdominal strain.
Chet Holmgren also exited the game in the third quarter and didn’t return after accidentally getting elbowed by Jalen Williams. And then Williams himself left the game with his injury.
It’s a string of bad news for OKC. But the good news is that it only has one game left, a home meeting with Milwaukee on Thursday, before it can get some much-needed rest during the All-Star break.
Tip-ins
∎ Jared McCain on headlining the Celebrity 3-Point Contest, which features Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and comedian Druski, at All-Star weekend: “It should be a fun time. I’ve met some of those guys, and they’re all super cool. It’ll be a fun time to get some shots up and have some fun with them.”
∎ OKC was without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal strain), Ajay Mitchell (abdominal strain), Thomas Sorber (right ACL surgical recovery) and Nikola Topić (surgical recovery).
∎ Phoenix was without Grayson Allen (right knee sprain), Cole Anthony (not with the team), Devin Booker (right ankle injury management), Jalen Green (right hamstring injury management) and Isaiah Livers (left shoulder sprain).
Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
Thunder vs. Bucks
TIPOFF: 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Paycom Center in Milwaukee (FanDuel Sports Network and Prime Video)
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder soars past Suns but loses Jalen Williams to injury scare
