Jalen Williams will not play against the Lakers today due to a grade 1 left hamstring strain. He has been officially listed as out for Game 1 of the second-round series.
Key points
Jalen Williams is out for Game 1 against the Lakers
He has a grade 1 left hamstring strain
Williams was injured in Game 2 against the Suns
Thunder coach says Williams is progressing
No timeline for Williams' return has been provided
Jalen WilliamsOklahoma City ThunderLos Angeles LakersNBA Playoffs 2026
Is Jalen Williams playing vs. Lakers today? Injury update for Thunder star
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault told reporters Monday, May 4 that Williams was "progressing according to plan," but declined to put a timeline on his return.
"We're not going to release that," Daigneault told reporters. "We’ll continue to let you guys know on a week-to-week basis."
Here's what to know about Williams' status against the Lakers:
Q&A
What is Jalen Williams' injury status for the game against the Lakers?
Jalen Williams is officially listed as out for the game against the Lakers due to a grade 1 left hamstring strain.
When did Jalen Williams sustain his hamstring injury?
Jalen Williams sustained his hamstring injury in Game 2 against the Phoenix Suns.
What did Thunder coach Mark Daigneault say about Jalen Williams' recovery?
Coach Mark Daigneault mentioned that Jalen Williams is progressing according to plan but did not provide a timeline for his return.
How does Jalen Williams' absence affect the Thunder's chances against the Lakers?
The Thunder are considered heavy favorites against the Lakers, but losing Jalen Williams, a key player, could impact their performance.
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Is Jalen Williams playing tonight?
No. As stated above, Williams is listed as out for Game 1 on Tuesday and is considered week-to-week with a left hamstring strain.
The Thunder aren't putting a definitive timeline for his return publicly, but reporting by The Oklahoman, part of the USA TODAY Network, estimates that the usual recovery window for a grade 1 hamstring strain is 1-2 weeks. Williams went down on April 22, so that would theoretically put his return sometime around Games 3-5.
Williams exited in the third quarter when he went up for a layup attempt, grabbed his left hamstring after landing back on the court and has not played since.
The 2025-26 season has been a frustrating one for Williams, who established himself as an All-Star last season and was one of OKC's biggest contributors to their title run. But injuries have added up over the course of this season.
Williams underwent wrist surgery after the NBA Finals, which forced him to miss the start of the regular season. He later missed 49 games with a right hamstring strain.
Jalen Williams stats
Jalen Williams averaged 17.1 points and 5.5 assists per game this season, a major reason the team posted the best record in the league this season. Williams recorded 22 points and seven rebounds in Oklahoma City's Game 1 win over Phoenix and had 19 points in 23 minutes before his injury in Game 2.
Moondog performs during the first quarter of game one in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors at Rocket Arena.
A member of the Cleveland Cavaliers Scream Team performs during a time out during the second half of game one in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena.
Cleveland Brows player Myles Garrett riles up the crowd during the first half of game one between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena.
A fan waves a towel during the second half of game one between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena.
Fans arrive to watch warmups before game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs between the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves at Ball Arena.
1 / 5
NBA playoffs fans, dancers, cheerleaders and mascots bring the energy
Moondog performs during the first quarter of game one in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors at Rocket Arena.
1 / 5
NBA playoffs fans, dancers, cheerleaders and mascots bring the energy
Moondog performs during the first quarter of game one in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors at Rocket Arena.
2 / 5
NBA playoffs fans, dancers, cheerleaders and mascots bring the energy
A member of the Cleveland Cavaliers Scream Team performs during a time out during the second half of game one in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena.
3 / 5
NBA playoffs fans, dancers, cheerleaders and mascots bring the energy
Cleveland Brows player Myles Garrett riles up the crowd during the first half of game one between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena.
4 / 5
NBA playoffs fans, dancers, cheerleaders and mascots bring the energy
A fan waves a towel during the second half of game one between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena.
5 / 5
NBA playoffs fans, dancers, cheerleaders and mascots bring the energy
Fans arrive to watch warmups before game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs between the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves at Ball Arena.
Thunder vs. Lakers playoff schedule
All times Eastern
Game 1 at Oklahoma City: Tuesday, May 5 at 8:30 p.m. | NBC, Peacock
Game 2 at Oklahoma City: Thursday, May 7 at 9:30 p.m. | Amazon Prime Video
Game 3 at Los Angeles: Saturday, May 9 at 9:30 p.m. | ABC, Fubo
Game 4 at Los Angeles: Monday, May 11 at 10:30 p.m. | Amazon Prime Video
*Game 5 at Oklahoma City: Wednesday, May 13 | Time and TV TBD
*Game 6 at Los Angeles: Saturday, May 16 | Time and TV TBD
*Game 7 at Oklahoma City: Monday, May 18 | Time and TV TBD