OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — The Thunder kept their perfect start intact in Oklahoma City on Sunday night, holding off the Los Angeles Clippers 108-101, but the win came at a heavy price.
All-Star guard Jalen Williams crashed to the floor while attacking the rim with 1:14 to play and was carried off on a stretcher, towels draped over his left leg. The team had not released an update on his condition after the game.
Williams was the third Thunder player hurt on the night. Guard Cason Wallace exited in the first quarter with soreness in his left shoulder, and forward Jaylin Williams left in the same quarter with a sore right wrist. Neither came back.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander carried the scoring load again with 34 points. Ajay Mitchell gave Oklahoma City a lift off the bench with 18 points on eight-for-14 shooting, and he also grabbed six boards, handed out four assists and came up with three steals across 28 minutes. Isaiah Hartenstein posted a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Los Angeles made it close late. A three from Derrick Jones Jr. with about three minutes remaining cut the Thunder lead to 97-96, but the Clippers never pulled even and never went in front.
Darius Garland paced the Clippers with 16 points, and Kris Dunn and Brook Lopez scored 15 apiece. Los Angeles fell to 1-2 and returns home Wednesday night to meet the Lakers at Intuit Dome.
The victory was the third straight for Oklahoma City to open the season, and the focus now turns to the health of a rotation that lost three players in one night.
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