Thunder Rule Out Jalen Williams for Game 4 vs. Lakers Amid Hamstring Recovery.

The Oklahoma City Thunder will be without All-NBA forward Jalen Williams for Game 4 of their second-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers, as the team continues to take a cautious approach with his recovery from a hamstring strain. Williams, who has now missed six straight postseason games, originally suffered the injury during Oklahoma City’s Game 2 victory over the Phoenix Suns. Despite the extended absence, the Thunder have not slowed down. They enter Game 4 with a commanding 3–0 series lead over Los Angeles and are on the verge of a sweep. The 2026 postseason run has underscored Oklahoma City’s depth. Guard Ajay Mitchell has stepped into a larger offensive role in Williams’ absence, delivering a standout performance in Game 3 with 24 points and 10 assists in a 131–108 win. The Thunder have now won five consecutive playoff games without Williams in the lineup.

Williams’ season has been marked by multiple injury setbacks. He appeared in just 33 regular-season games after undergoing two wrist surgeries and dealing with separate hamstring issues. Given that history—and the team’s current control of the series—the decision to hold him out aligns with a longer-term focus on postseason health.

With Game 4 looming, Oklahoma City appears well-positioned to close out the series even without one of its top players, as it looks to advance to the Western Conference Finals.