The Oklahoma City Thunder are staying with a new-look starting lineup against the Los Angeles Lakers as Jalen Williams remains sidelined.
Oklahoma City’s starters are Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Ajay Mitchell, Lu Dort, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein. The lineup keeps Mitchell in Williams’ place for another high-stakes playoff game, giving the Thunder a smaller, quicker perimeter group around Gilgeous-Alexander while maintaining the Holmgren-Hartenstein frontcourt.
Williams is officially out with a left hamstring strain, according to the NBA’s 6 p.m. ET injury report for the Lakers-Thunder matchup. The same report also lists Thunder rookie Thomas Sorber out because of right ACL surgical recovery. For the Lakers, Luka Doncic is out with a left hamstring strain, while Luke Kennard is questionable and Jarred Vanderbilt is doubtful after a right finger dislocation.
That means Game 2 again comes with major star power missing on both sides. But Oklahoma City already showed in Game 1 that it can function without Williams, beating Los Angeles 108-90 behind 24 points and 12 rebounds from Holmgren and 18 points apiece from Gilgeous-Alexander and Mitchell.
For their part, the Lakers announced their starters: LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart and Austin Reaves.
Is Jalen Williams Playing Tonight? No, the All-Star is Still Out With A Hamstring Injury
No, Jalen Williams is not playing tonight against the Lakers.
The Thunder All-Star remains out because of a left hamstring strain, an absence that now stretches into another playoff game. Williams also missed Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals, and Oklahoma City responded by leaning more heavily on its depth, defense and frontcourt versatility.
The bigger question is not just whether Williams is unavailable. It is how long Oklahoma City can keep controlling the series without one of its best two-way players.
Ajay Mitchell Gets Another Major Opportunity for Thunder
Mitchell staying in the starting lineup matters because the Lakers now have film on Oklahoma City’s Williams-less look.
Los Angeles knows Gilgeous-Alexander will still be the center of the Thunder’s offense. It knows Holmgren can punish switches, finish above the rim and stretch the floor. The swing piece is Mitchell, who can make the Lakers pay if they treat him as the fifth option.
That is especially important with Dort likely drawing difficult defensive assignments and Hartenstein serving as a screener, rebounder and connector. Mitchell does not need to become Williams. He needs to keep the ball moving, defend without fouling and hit enough shots to prevent the Lakers from crowding Gilgeous-Alexander.
Game 1 gave Oklahoma City a strong blueprint. The Thunder shot 49.4% from the field, made 13 of 30 3-pointers and forced 17 Lakers turnovers in the 18-point win.
The Lakers’ own injury situation also changes the matchup. Doncic remains out, removing their highest-usage offensive engine. LeBron James scored 27 points in Game 1, but Los Angeles struggled to generate consistent offense beyond him, with Austin Reaves held to eight points on 3-of-16 shooting.
That gives the Thunder a chance to take a 2-0 series lead at home before the series shifts. It also gives Mitchell another chance to prove Oklahoma City’s depth is not just a regular-season advantage.
Williams’ return is still the larger storyline for the Thunder’s playoff ceiling. But for tonight, the immediate story is simpler: Oklahoma City has announced its starters, Williams is still out and Mitchell is back in a postseason role that suddenly matters a lot.
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