Thunder expect 'tough' road without injured G Jalen Williams

Oct. 26 (UPI) -- An emotional Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said he expects a "tough" road for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who lost Jalen Williams to a gruesome ankle injury. Williams sustained the injury with about 74 seconds remaining in a 108-101 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday in Oklahoma City. The All-Star guard left the court on a stretcher. "I just feel bad for him," Gilgeous-Alexander said on the Thunder+ broadcast. "It's obviously going to be tough without a player like that. But he's not gone forever. He'll be back better than ever, and we know it. "We've just got to hold the fort down until he comes back." The Thunder led 103-99 at the time of the injury. Gilgeous-Alexander started the sequence with a dribble in the right corner. He then started a passing exchange. Williams caught the ball near the 3-point arc, dribbled into the paint and drove toward the rim. He was fouled and landed awkwardly, with his left ankle getting caught under his body. He brought his hands to his face and displayed a shocked reaction on his face when he noticed that his left foot was bent in an unnatural position. "Those are tough men," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault told reporters. "We're not doing great. That's tough on the guys. Everyone empathizes, I think both teams, in those situations." Williams totaled eight points, five assists, two rebounds, two steals and a block in the win. He averaged 13.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists through his first three appearances of the 2026-27 season. Gilgeous-Alexander totaled a game-high 34 points in Sunday's win. Center Isaiah Hartenstein logged 12 points and 12 rebounds. Clippers guard Darius Garland totaled 16 points and 11 assists in the loss. Thunder guard Cason Wallace and forward Jaylin Williams also left Sunday's game early due to respective shoulder and wrist injuries. Daigneault did not provide updates on the injured players. "You've gotta play the hands you are dealt in life," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "It is what it is. It sucks, but it's part of the game. We have a team for a reason. "We have guys who are ready to step in place and make a difference out there on the floor." The Thunder (3-0) will host the Phoenix Suns (1-1) at 8 p.m. EDT Monday in Oklahoma City.