After missing long stretches of the season, Oklahoma City Thunder star guard Jalen Williams is finally settling into a rhythm.
That’s exactly what the Thunder hoped for from the All-Star guard as the regular season comes to a close.
Williams and the Thunder host the Utah Jazz on Sunday, as one of the top teams in the Western Conference battles against the team tied for last.
“I feel like I haven’t played all year. I got pretty fresh legs right now, which will serve me well,” Williams said. “I feel like we only have a certain amount of games left, so I’ll probably go into these playoffs pretty fresh, God willing.”
While Williams scored just 10 points in Oklahoma City’s 139-96 blowout of the Lakers on Thursday, it might’ve been his most complete game this season, as he finished with nine rebounds, eight assists, and two steals.
“I’ve always kind of tried to play that way, with a high motor,” Williams said. “I feel like that’s when I’m my best.”
Though Oklahoma City has the NBA’s best record, they’re still in a tight race with San Antonio for the top spot overall with just five games remaining.
It’s much different than a year ago when the Thunder had the top seed long wrapped up by the close of the regular season.
Oklahoma City (61-16) has won four consecutive games and 16 of its last 17.
“Our biggest thing as a team is we actually do not care if you’re bored watching us, to be completely honest with you,” Williams said after Thursday’s win. “That goes for me on down. We’re trying to win basketball games at the end of the day, just like everybody else. That’s our superpower. You’re not getting bored with the process. We don’t take wins like this for granted. If you don’t come and bring it, you can lose to anybody in the NBA.”
That was tested a bit the last time the Thunder and Jazz met, Jan. 7 in Oklahoma City, when Utah took the Thunder to overtime before Oklahoma City escaped with a 129-125 victory.
The other two matchups between the teams this season — both in Salt Lake City — have been blowout victories for the Thunder.
The Jazz (21-57) come into the game on an eight-game losing streak and have gone 3-19 since the All-Star break.
While Oklahoma City has returned to health recently — though Luguentz Dort left Thursday’s win after crashing hard to the floor — Utah has dealt with a rash of injuries.
The Jazz’s top three scorers — Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George, and Jaren Jackson Jr. — have missed extended time recently, opening the door for more playing time for young players like Brice Sensabaugh, Kyle Filipowski, and Cody Williams.
Utah coach Will Hardy said he’s encouraged by the performance of that young trio, especially in the confines of the Jazz’s system.
“It’s not opportunity that is based around, like, ‘Hey man, do your thing,’ … It’s still within the team construct,” Hardy said. “And so, the thought process there is that it can translate (in the future).”
