Thunder star Jalen Williams out Game 1 vs. Lakers

As expected, the reigning champs will be shorthanded Tuesday night.Star wing Jalen Williams has been ruled out in Game 1 against the Lakers due to a Grade 1 hamstring strain.“He’s progressing according to plan, I would say,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said Monday when speaking with media.“In terms of a timeline, we’re not going to release that.

We’ll continue to let you guys know on a week-to-week basis.”It was an injury-ravaged season for Williams in which he only played 33 games, less than half the regular season.California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.

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Never miss a story He was sidelined for the Thunder’s first 19 games, during which they went 18-1, because of offseason surgery on his right wrist. He then missed 10 games between January and February because of a right hamstring strain, playing in two games, before aggravating the hamstring and missing another five weeks.California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedInCalifornia Post Sports Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, XCalifornia Post Opinion California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!California Post App: Download here!Home delivery: Sign up here!Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!Williams played in the first two games of Oklahoma City’s first-round series vs.the Suns.

He averaged 20.5 points, 5.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game, a good sign after he averaged 17.1 points per game during the regular season.However, he suffered a Grade 1 left hamstring strain during Game 2 of the series against Phoenix on April 22.Because Grade 1 hamstring strains typically heal in one to two weeks, there was a good chance Williams would return by the beginning of this next round.

But Williams’ injury appears to be worse than originally expected after Daigneault’s com...