The Oklahoma City Thunder may have lost Game 1, but Jalen Williams has returned to give them every reason to believe they can win this series. Much has been made of the Thunder's success without him, but he all but instantly got back to his All-NBA level of play in his first appearance in nearly a month.
It's the type of development that can easily overshadow the disappointment of a close loss when the team in question has been here before.
Prior to Game 1, Williams hadn't played since Game 2 of the Thunder's first-round series against the Phoenix Suns on Apr. 22. Compounded by the fact that he appeared in just 33 games during the 2025-26 regular season, questions inevitably arose about what the 25-year-old could realistically do against the 62-win San Antonio Spurs.
Williams quickly answered that question with a fantastic first game back, showcasing the three-level scoring ability and defensive proficiency that's made him one of the NBA's best two-way players.
WIlliams finished Game 1 with 26 points, seven rebounds, three assists, one block, and a steal. He shot 11-of-25 from the field and, perhaps most importantly, played 37 minutes—his most since Jan. 7, when he logged 41 in an overtime win over the Utah Jazz.
If Williams' quality of play, availability, and even minutes are a sign of things to come, then the Thunder have every reason to believe this series can turn around.
Jalen Williams played his most minutes since Jan. 7 in Game 1
In addition to putting points on the board in a relatively efficient manner, Williams matched up against just about every high-profile player on the Spurs. He may not have locked his opponents down, but the fact that he spent multiple possessions on the likes of Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, Devin Vassell, and Victor Wembanyama is a testament to his versatility.
If Williams can continue to get his feet under him, then the 2025 All-Defensive First Team honoree should be able to make a significant impact on this series.
If he can simultaneously maintain his offensive production, then Williams can be the second option Oklahoma City needs. The Conference Finals are a massive stage on which an inexperienced player like Ajay Mitchell may need time to adjust, but Williams has been here before.
Keep in mind: This is the same player who averaged 22.2 points per game on .494/.462/.833 shooting during the 2025 Western Conference Finals and dropped 40 points in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
Questions still need to be answered, particularly in regard to which version of Chet Holmgren will routinely show up. What Williams returning and thriving has done, however, is permit Holmgren to focus more on defense and pick his spots without truly fading into the background on offense.
With Williams playing like the star he is, the Thunder simply need a natural environment and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to remember why he's the MVP to recover from losing Game 1.
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