SF Jalen Williams is once again listed as questionable for Game 5 of Spurs vs. Thunder in the Western Conference Finals, which tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Oklahoma City is holding its own without one of its top players, but the availability of J-Dub continues to be perhaps the biggest storyline of the NBA Playoffs right now.
Below, we'll break down the latest Jalen Williams injury update, if Williams will play tonight, and who to target on PrizePicks if he’s unable to make his return to action.
Make your NBA Playoff picks on PrizePicks — including ones on Spurs vs. Thunder Game 5.
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Jalen Williams Injury Update: Is Williams Playing Tonight vs. Spurs?
Per the NBA’s official injury report early on Tuesday afternoon, Williams remains questionable. There’s been no change in his status from previous games, although there is a new twist regarding his designation.
Over the last handful of days, Williams’ injury was described as “left hamstring soreness.” Prior to Game 5, it’s now “injury management” for a “strain.” The star wing has already strained both hamstrings before this year. Perhaps this is a clerical decision by the team, but it’s interesting nonetheless.
During the Thunder’s last championship run, Williams played through a wrist issue that ultimately required surgery. That held him out until the end of November, then he got hurt multiple times throughout the rest of the regular season, playing in just 33 games total.
Williams aggravated a hamstring ailment in Game 2 of the first round of the playoffs against the Phoenix Suns, only to return for Game 1 of the current Spurs series and wind up hampered again in Game 2.
In just 24.3 minutes per game through four postseason contests, Williams averaged 17.8 PPG on 52.7% shooting from the field and 45.5% from deep.
While it’s unclear whether Williams will get back in action on Tuesday, there are some PrizePicks projections for him available as of the writing of this article. Popular Jalen Williams picks include 14.5 Points, 4 Rebounds, 3.5 Assists, and more.
What Players to Target on PrizePicks if Williams Is Out?
The more time that passes without Williams, the more obvious his impact is becoming. The Thunder have played 427 leverage-adjusted minutes without him, per databallr, and their defense has performed 4.4 points per 100 possessions worse. J-Dub has a +3.6 net rating overall for the postseason, signaling his importance to OKC.
Which players might see increased workloads if Williams continues to miss time? The obvious candidate is PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is scoring 8.0 more points per 75 this playoffs when his co-star sits.
Elsewhere, SG Alex Caruso has stepped up to fill some of the void. In minutes minus Williams, he posts a video game-like 71.0% on true shooting compared to 59.4% with him. Finally, don’t forget about C-PF Chet Holmgren, whose usage rate spikes by 6.1% without Williams in the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
Here are the Thunder players who may benefit most on PrizePicks if Williams is out, as well as their stat projections for tonight.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vs. Spurs Projections: 29.5 Points / 4 Rebounds / 8 Assists
- Alex Caruso vs. Spurs Projections: 8.5 Points / 2.5 Rebounds (Goblin) / 13.5 Pts + Rebs + Asts
- Chet Holmgren vs. Spurs Projections: 13 Points / 7 Rebounds / 3.5 2-Pt Made
Game 5 isn’t quite do-or-die, but it’s critical nonetheless. With that in mind, Gilgeous-Alexander very well could continue to lead the way for a team looking to get back to the NBA Finals.
Pick More or Less Thunder player stats on PrizePicks now before tonight’s tip at 8:30.
Make Spurs vs. Thunder Game 5 Picks on PrizePicks
Jalen Williams is questionable for Game 5, and Spurs vs. Thunder is just hours away. As Oklahoma City continues to gather information to make its decision on whether he’ll play, you can gather picks for your PrizePicks NBA Playoff Lineups.
Don't wait — make your Spurs vs. Thunder picks on PrizePicks now and earn real money if you're right.
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