The Oklahoma City Thunder will be without two starters for an extended stretch, and possibly the rest of the season, after Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace both went down with serious injuries during Sunday night’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Thunder GM Sam Presti confirmed Monday that Williams needs surgery for a dislocated ankle and fractured fibula, while Wallace requires surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
Williams was hurt in the fourth quarter after elevating near the basket with Clippers defenders closing in on him. He landed awkwardly on his left foot and ankle, which buckled beneath him. His foot was visibly out of position, and he put his head in his hands as teammates reacted in disbelief. Trainers surrounded him on the court before he was taken off on a stretcher, with the Oklahoma City crowd chanting his name. Williams gave a thumbs-up to the fans as he was wheeled off, but the injury is expected to keep him sidelined for a long time.
Wallace was injured earlier in the game, suffering the shoulder injury in the first quarter.
The losses come at a difficult moment for both players. Williams missed 49 regular-season games last season, along with much of the playoffs, due to a right wrist injury that required surgery and hamstring problems in both legs. He had been expected to return to All-Star form this season.
Wallace signed a five-year, $139 million contract extension before the season started and had moved into the starting lineup this year, only to go down just a few games in.
With both players out, Oklahoma City will rely heavily on its bench depth, regarded as one of the strongest in the NBA. Jared McCain and Alex Caruso, who typically come off the bench, are expected to move into the starting lineup going forward.
The Thunder were set to face the Phoenix Suns on Monday night as the team begins adjusting to life without two of its starters.
