Jalen Williams, who missed the last 10 games due to a right hamstring strain, didn’t look rusty in his on-court return, as he led the Oklahoma City Thunder, who were without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdomen), to a 119-110 road win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday evening.
The Oklahoma City Thunder star poured in 23 points, with 10 of his points coming in the fourth quarter, and three rebounds on 6-for-17 shooting from the field and 11-for-13 shooting from the free throw line in 24 minutes of action.
“He slammed the door on that game,” head coach Mark Daigneault said via The Oklahoman. “It was impressive. He’s got such a body of work that we’re not overly concerned with how he plays coming back. We’re just happy he’s back… Obviously, he was huge tonight. We know he’s a big-time player.”
“I was just still being aggressive down the stretch, not letting it shake my confidence,” Williams said. “We have a lot of players that you also have to be aware of when we’re playing, so it opens up a lot of space for me… When they’re out there making plays, it makes it easier for me to get to my spots and keep at it.”
Oklahoma City Thunder News: Jared McCain makes a good first impression vs. Los Angeles Lakers
The Oklahoma City Thunder acquired Jared McCain from the Philadelphia 76ers during the trade deadline, and the 21-year-old combo guard played well in his debut, notching seven points and three rebounds on 3-for-6 shooting from the field in 14 minutes off the bench against the Los Angeles Lakers.
“He’s shot a couple bump middies already, so he’ll fit right in,” Jalen Williams said of McCain. “He’s a really good person. That’s the biggest thing when we’re getting guys. We’re not only getting the player, but the organization is looking for good people.”
“He’s a really good player,” he added. “He’s a smart player who plays hard. This is his second year. To be able to come into a new team, obviously, we just won a chip, and plug in right away in big minutes and play really well is definitely the sign of a really good player. He’s well on his way. He’ll be good for us.”
