The Oklahoma City Thunder have now suffered two embarrassing defeats in their series against the San Antonio Spurs.
Their offense went completely flat on the road in Game 4, and it did so again in Game 6 even after an apparent resurgence at home in Game 5. The Thunder posted 91 points on 37.2% shooting from the field, and they never truly seemed to be in the game once San Antonio threw the final punch at the start of the third quarter.
There were obviously some concerning trends to take note of. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander went just 6-of-18 from the field, bringing his total field-goal percentage for this series down to just 37.9%. Chet Holmgren again failed to make a serious offensive impact, taking just eight shots and looking to be severely limited by the presence of Victor Wembanyama. Even their defense seemed somewhat sluggish, failing to adequately contest 3-pointers and forcing just 12 turnovers.
There's at least one silver lining to take away from the defeat, though. Jalen Williams, who had missed the last three games with a hamstring injury, played 10 minutes on the night. Although his performance was less than inspiring, it opened a door for a major resurgence in Game 7.
That could be the key to a series victory for Oklahoma City.
The Thunder need Jalen Williams to help jumpstart the offense in Game 7
Williams' stat line in Game 6, frankly, isn't worth taking a long look at. He took just one shot on the night, posting one point, two blocks, and one turnover. The team was -18 with him on the court.
Williams' return didn't make a difference in Game 6. Hopefully, though, it gave him the chance to get his legs under him ahead of Game 7.
With Ajay Mitchell out, the Thunder desperately need an additional offensive outlet, especially considering the way Gilgeous-Alexander has played for stretches of this series. Williams has the size and the athleticism to deal with the Spurs' lengthy guards, and he has the ability to get downhill and create contact in the paint against Wembanyama and San Antonio's other defenders. If Oklahoma City is going to risk re-injury by having him play in this series, they need as close to that version of Williams as they can get.
Williams clearly had some rust in Game 1, but his performance shows exactly what he's capable of against this opponent. Across 37 minutes on the court, he posted 26 points, seven rebounds, and three assists while shooting 11-of-25 from the field.
Is it unfair to ask Williams to replicate that when he's already taking a risk by simply being on the court? Probably.
But it's the position Oklahoma City has left themselves in by not capitalizing on their opportunity in Game 6. If Williams is aggressive and making his shots in Game 7, the Thunder's chances will skyrocket. If he's not, they'll need to quickly find another solution to the Spurs' swarming defense.
Add us as a preferred source on Google