Jalen Williams made an immediate impact in his return from injury, scoring 23 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 119–110 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night. Williams poured in 15 of his points in the second half, helping the Thunder snap a two-game losing streak despite being without MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The matchup was notable for the absence of two of the NBA’s biggest stars. Gilgeous-Alexander sat out with an abdominal injury, while Lakers guard Luka Dončić missed his second straight game due to a mild hamstring strain. Without their headliners, both teams leaned on depth and physical play, combining for 52 free-throw attempts.
LeBron James led Los Angeles with 22 points, scoring 14 after halftime, but the Lakers’ defensive struggles resurfaced as their three-game winning streak came to an end. Oklahoma City took control late behind timely jumpers from Jalen Williams and Jaylin Williams, along with a crucial put-back dunk by Chet Holmgren in the final minutes.
The Thunder also got strong contributions off the bench, with Isaiah Joe scoring 19 points and Alex Caruso adding 17. Holmgren finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds for Oklahoma City, which remains the NBA’s top team by record despite recent inconsistency.
For the Lakers, Marcus Smart scored 19 points and Austin Reaves added 16 while playing under a minutes restriction. The loss dropped Los Angeles to 14–9 at home.
Gilgeous-Alexander is expected to remain sidelined through the All-Star break, while the Lakers are still evaluating Dončić’s status. In their absence, Oklahoma City showed its depth and resilience — and Jalen Williams’ return proved to be the difference.
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