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Jalen Williams Downgraded to Out, Jared McCain Starts for Thunder in Game 5
Jared McCain makes his first start as Oklahoma City lists Jalen Williams out and Ajay Mitchell sidelined with a right calf sprain.
- Oklahoma City Thunder star Jalen Williams was ruled out Tuesday due to a strained left hamstring before Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, forcing Jared McCain into his first playoff start alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Lugentz Dort.
- Williams has battled his fourth hamstring injury of the season, leaving Game 2 after just seven minutes; according to ESPN's Shams Charania, the strain typically signals a longer-term injury measured in weeks rather than days.
- Ajay Mitchell's absence for the second consecutive game with a strained right soleus calf removes the team's second-leading playoff scorer, while the Thunder's Game 4 offensive collapse—33% shooting and fewer than 80 points—underscored their vulnerability.
- McCain's first playoff start will require immediate offensive contributions as the Thunder lean on bench depth including Chet Holmgren, Alex Caruso, and Cason Wallace; Game 5 winner advances 76.4% of the time when Conference Finals are tied 2-2.
- The Thunder face an uphill battle with two of three top ball handlers sidelined against a healthy San Antonio Spurs roster, as head coach Mark Daigneault acknowledged Oklahoma City lacked sharpness and precision offensively despite splitting 3-3 this season.
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21 Articles
21 Articles
Associated Press News+14 Reposted by 14 other sources
Jalen Williams downgraded to out, Jared McCain starts for Thunder in Game 5
Jalen Williams was downgraded to out by Oklahoma City Thunder for Game 5 of the Western Conference finals on Tuesday night, after being listed as questionable throughout the day because of his ongoing issues with a strained left hamstring.
·United States
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Thunder can beat Spurs without Jalen Williams or Ajay Mitchell. But without both?
·Oklahoma City, United States
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Total News Sources21
Leaning Left5Leaning Right1Center12Last UpdatedBias Distribution67% Center
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources are Center
67% Center
L 28%
C 67%
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