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Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The OKC Thunder has a chance to pull off the only sweep of Round 1 if they beat the Phoenix Suns in Game 4 on Monday, April 27. However, they will remain without their secondary star to possibly close out the series.
Jalen Williams did not play for the Thunder’s Game 3 victory in Phoenix and will continue to watch Game 4 on the sideline as he nurses a Grade 1 left hamstring strain.
Williams’ status remains week to week after hurting his left hamstring during Game 2 of the series against the Suns.
Despite playing without Williams, the Thunder has been dominant throughout the series, winning by 12 points or more over the last three games.
The expectation is that Williams will continue to rest his hamstring for the entirety of the first round before the team sees its progression as they enter Round 2. No team in NBA history has overcome a 3-0 advantage in the playoffs.
Williams has struggled with injuries throughout the season, including two setbacks on his right hamstring. The only silver lining in Williams’ current injury is that it happened on his left hamstring, not the same one he has rehabbed for most of the regular season.
The Thunder has been 39-10 when Williams is playing on the court.
GettyAjay Mitchell takes over Jalen Williams’ starting role.
With Williams sidelined, the Thunder tapped Ajay Mitchell as his replacement in the starters for the meantime.
Mitchell started Game 3 and dropped 15 points, albeit on 5-of-20 shooting from the field. He attempted more field goals than anyone with a Thunder jersey, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who had 42 points on 15-of-18 shooting to lead OKC in Game 3.
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault commended Mitchell, a sophomore, for being unafraid of the playoff moment. Last year, he was not in the playoff rotation after dealing with numerous injuries late in the season.
“He’s obviously not shy. Winners fail and losers hide. He wasn’t hiding,” Daigneault said of Mitchell. “It is one things that I love from this team. We got a bunch of guys that lean in to the competition…He is not shying away from the moment. He was aggressive and he executes.”
“You know he is going to get better as the series goes and his career goes. I think he is outstanding.”
Mitchell has been a sparkplug off the bench for the Thunder. He brings on-ball creation for the squad, a facet that Jalen Williams also brings to the table when he plays alongside Gilgeous-Alexander.
Mitchell is expected to remain a starter in Game 4 as the Thunder target a series-clinching win on the road.
GettyOKC Thunder can record their third straight Round 1 sweep.
The Thunder has been a juggernaut in the Western Conference for three straight years, finishing with the top seed across all those seasons.
With a Game 4 win over the Suns, the team could also record its third straight Round 1 sweep in the playoffs.
Last year, they finished off the Memphis Grizzlies in four games. In 2024, the Thunder swept the New Orleans Pelicans.
Rob Andrew Lo Rob Andrew Lo is a writer at Heavy Sports and is covering the NBA. He has covered local, collegiate, professional and international sports in various sites. He was the sports editor of The Varsitarian, the official student publication of University of Santo Tomas, and a sports, entertainment, and lifestyle writer for Rappler. A Journalism graduate from the University of Santo Tomas, he has built his voice across both collegiate and international platforms, previously contributing NBA coverage to Fansided and Sportskeeda. More about Rob Andrew Lo
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