Williams went down awkwardly on a drive late in Oklahoma City's win over the Clippers, with his ankle appearing to bend the wrong way.
Oklahoma City's Jalen Williams was carried off the court on a stretcher late in the fourth quarter Sunday night after a gruesome leg injury against the Clippers. Williams landed awkwardly following a drive to the basket, and his ankle appeared to bend the wrong way on contact. Players on both benches reacted in horror, unable to watch as Williams lay in pain on the floor.
The Thunder went on to beat the Clippers 108-101, but the win was overshadowed by the injury to one of the team's key players. No official diagnosis had been confirmed by the Thunder at the time, though the visual was severe enough that it appeared to be a significant break or tear to his left leg.
Williams was already a question mark entering this season after wrist and hamstring injuries limited him to only 33 games last year and kept him out of most of the playoffs. He had been expected to be one of the league's most interesting players this season, with some viewing a healthy Williams as the piece that could make Oklahoma City the team to beat for a future championship. Instead, the Thunder appear to be facing another extended absence for their star wing, this time after just the third game of the season.