OKC Thunder likely to be without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams vs Pacers

The Oklahoma City Thunder have ruled out Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and tabbed Jalen Williams as doubtful ahead of their matchup with Indiana. Is it time to panic?

Mar 31, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) warms / John Jones-USA TODAY Sports

The Oklahoma City Thunder (52-24) continue their five-game Eastern Conference road swing with a trip to Indiana to take on the Pacers. On the Initial OKC Thunder injury report, it was announced the Bricktown boys will likely be without both of their go-to scorers.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is nursing a quad injury suffered on March 20 against the Utah Jazz, is slated as out for Friday's game against Indiana. This marks the fifth time in six games that Gilgeous-Alexander will ride the pine with this injury. His one cameo came on Sunday as he hit a game-winner in Madison Square Garden.

The Thunder's second top scorer, rising star Jalen Williams, has been tabbed as doubtful against the Pacers with an ankle injury that has flared up at different spurts this season. According to the NBA Injury Policy, a player listed as doubtful has a 25 percent chance of playing in the next game.

Of course, these injury reports are updated hourly, and things are always subject to change, but it seems unlikely that either top option will participate in this game according to the initial diagnosis.

With Gilgeous-Alexander's and Williams' absences in the last two games, it does raise some level of concern ahead of the NBA Playoffs. However, there should not be too much worry around the Thunder's young stars who are on the mend from injury, there has been no indication that this is anything other than catching up on rest and routine maintenance.

The health of the Thunder's youngsters, getting them as close to 100 percent for the postseason is far more important than whatever seed Oklahoma City lands at. Without the two firing on all cylinders, the Thunder are behind the eight ball in any matchup.

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