Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams was taken off the floor on a stretcher after suffering a significant injury to his left leg on Sunday against the LA Clippers.
Jalen Williams (Credits: ESPN)
The injury happened late in Oklahoma City’s 108-101 win over the Clippers. With 1:15 remaining in the fourth quarter, Williams went up through traffic, came down awkwardly on his left leg, and it collapsed under him, his left foot bending out to the side at an unnatural angle.
There was no immediate word from the team on the nature or severity of the injury beyond ESPN’s description of it as significant.
How Jalen Williams Was Injured Against the Clippers
Williams was injured as he drove to the basket late in the game. He was fouled on the play — Clippers guard Kris Dunn was assessed a flagrant-1 foul after a review — and landed awkwardly, with his weight coming down on his left leg.
The reaction around him told the story. Williams brought his hands to his mouth and then his head when he looked at the injury while sitting on the hardwood. A staffer quickly covered his lower leg with a towel, and trainers attended to him as teammates and Clippers players reacted in shock.
Teammate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander buried his face in his jersey and bent down near Williams as the All-Star guard was treated on the court.
Williams Wheeled Off to Standing Ovation
Williams was placed on a stretcher and wheeled off the court to a standing ovation. As he was taken off, he gave the crowd two thumbs-up — a gesture that drew further applause from a crowd that had fallen silent while he was treated.
Gilgeous-Alexander teared up in his postgame television interview when addressing the injury.
“I just feel bad for him,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It’s obviously going to be tough without a player like that. But he’s not gone forever. He’ll be back better than ever, and we know it. We’ve just got to hold the fort down until he comes back.”
The Thunder also lost guard Cason Wallace (left shoulder soreness) and forward Jaylin Williams (right wrist soreness) earlier in the game, with both leaving in the first quarter and not returning.
Despite the injuries, Oklahoma City held on for the 108-101 win to move to 3-0 on the season. But the result was quickly overshadowed by concern for Williams, one of the Thunder’s most important players. Until the team provides an update, the focus will be on Williams’ recovery — and on how Oklahoma City copes without him in the meantime.
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Source: ESPN — read the full story there.