Jalen Williams was ruled out for Game 4 of Oklahoma City’s second-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers at 9:30 p.m. CT Monday, leaving the Thunder without one of their regular contributors as they tried to close out the best-of-seven set.
Williams has yet to play in the series because of a Grade 1 left hamstring strain he sustained on April 22. Oklahoma City took control with a 131-108 road win on Saturday, a result that gave the Thunder a 3-0 lead and put the Lakers in a deep hole entering Monday night.
The absence of Williams keeps the focus on a matchup that has already been shaped by injuries on both sides. The Lakers remained without Luka Doncic, who was sidelined by a Grade 2 left hamstring strain sustained on April 2, underscoring how much of the second-round series has been played with key names out of action.
That leaves Oklahoma City in position to end the series without having Williams on the floor in this round, while Los Angeles has to answer for a deficit that became bigger after Saturday’s loss. For the Thunder, the next step was simple: protect the lead and move on. For the Lakers, Game 4 was about keeping the season alive one night longer.
