OKC Thunder Wing Jalen Williams Flashes Superstar Potential in New York

Despite an off-night from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams picked up the slack on Sunday evening to lead Oklahoma City to its 52nd win of the season.

Mar 31, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) brings the / John Jones-USA TODAY Sports

Second-year wing Jalen Williams played like a superstar on Sunday night against the New York Knicks.

With the Thunder's first playoff berth since 2020 just a win away, Williams tallied 33 points, eight assists, four rebounds, two steals, two blocks and just one turnover to out-duel All-Star guard Jalen Brunson and lead Oklahoma City to a 113-112 victory at Madison Square Garden.

"It took grit, it took fight, it took (Williams) being miraculous all night," Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said after the game. "It took a lot of things, but every night is different. You never know what it's going to look like, but we'll take our W's. We won't take it for granted."

Williams went 14-of-18 from the field while missing just one attempt from inside the 3-point line on Sunday night. The Santa Clara product was virtually unstoppable once he got to the midrange, hitting difficult shots over New York defenders with ease.

In addition to his exceptional midrange game, Williams also threw down a monster dunk between two Knicks defenders, showcasing his strength and athleticism.

Jalen Williams plays with so much power. What a dunk. pic.twitter.com/iEg5t5WOSL

— Nick Crain (@CrainNBA) April 1, 2024

One of the most impressive aspects of Williams' performance, however, was his showing in the fourth quarter. The former lottery pick scored 10 of his 33 points in the final frame, going 4-of-4 from the field to help lead OKC to a comeback victory.

The budding star has been one of the best players in the NBA this season during the fourth quarter, shooting 56.3% from the field and 52.2% from 3-point range in the game's final period.

While Gilgeous-Alexander ended up hitting the game-winner with less than two seconds left in regulation, Williams was the main catalyst for Oklahoma City's triumph while the team's superstar had an off-night by his standards.

"We trust each other to make the right plays," Williams said after the game. "I think it's just more about trust and trying to make the right play every time. I think we've been doing a really good job of that this year.

SGA finished the contest with 19 points while shooting 7-for-16 from the field in his return to the court after missing the Thunder's last two games with what he described as a quad injury.

Averaging 19.3 points, 4.5 assists, four rebounds and 1.1 steals per game this season, Williams has been a fantastic second option for Mark Daigneault and has shown the ability to operate as the team's offensive leader when needed. Additionally, Williams is a great help defender and a standout perimeter defender, using his length to disrupt passing lanes and contest shots.

With Sunday night's victory, the Thunder have clinched a spot in the playoffs after losing to Minnesota in the Play-In Tournament last year. With Williams' impressive defensive ability and solid shot-making on offense, the 6-foot-5 wing's play style should translate well to the postseason.

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