Jalen Williams finding rhythm as Thunder host Jazz

Oklahoma City star guard Jalen Williams is finally settling into a rhythm after missing long stretches of the season.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 2:49am

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After missing significant time this season, Oklahoma City Thunder star guard Jalen Williams is finding his rhythm as the regular season comes to a close. Williams and the Thunder, who have the NBA's best record, host the struggling Utah Jazz on Sunday. Though Williams scored just 10 points in the Thunder's recent blowout win over the Lakers, he finished with 9 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals, showcasing his all-around game. The Thunder are in a tight race with the Spurs for the top seed in the West, while the Jazz have gone just 3-19 since the All-Star break.

Why it matters

As the Thunder make a push for the top seed in the West, getting Jalen Williams back to full strength is crucial. The All-Star guard missed significant time this season, and his return to form could be the difference-maker for Oklahoma City in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the struggling Jazz are using this late-season stretch to provide valuable playing time for their young players.

The details

Jalen Williams said he feels like he hasn't played all year and has fresh legs, which he believes will serve him well heading into the playoffs. In the Thunder's recent blowout win over the Lakers, Williams had 10 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals, showcasing his all-around game. Oklahoma City has the NBA's best record at 61-16 and is in a tight race with the Spurs for the top seed in the West. The Jazz, on the other hand, have gone just 3-19 since the All-Star break and are dealing with a number of injuries to their top players.

  • The Thunder and Jazz will face off on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
  • The Thunder have won 4 consecutive games and 16 of their last 17.
  • The Jazz have lost 8 straight games and gone 3-19 since the All-Star break.

The players

Jalen Williams

The Oklahoma City Thunder's All-Star guard who is finding his rhythm after missing significant time this season due to injury.

Will Hardy

The head coach of the Utah Jazz, who is encouraging his young players to perform within the team's system as the Jazz deal with a number of injuries.

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What they’re saying

“I feel like I haven't played all year. I got pretty fresh legs right now, which will serve me well. I feel like we only have a certain amount of games left, so I'll probably go into these playoffs pretty fresh, God willing.”

— Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder guard

“Our biggest thing as a team is we actually do not care if you're bored watching us, to be completely honest with you. 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.”

— Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder guard

“It's not opportunity that is based around, like, 'Hey man, do your thing,' ... It's still within the team construct. And so, the thought process there is that it can translate (in the future).”

— Will Hardy, Utah Jazz head coach

What’s next

The Thunder and Jazz will face off again on Sunday, April 5, 2026 in Oklahoma City.

The takeaway

As the Thunder make a push for the top seed in the Western Conference, getting Jalen Williams back to full strength could be the difference-maker for their playoff run. Meanwhile, the struggling Jazz are using this late-season stretch to provide valuable playing time for their young players, with an eye towards the future.