The versatile big man's return injects much-needed shooting, playmaking, and rebounding as the Thunder near full strength for a challenging stretch.
What a difference one game can make on the Thunder injury report.
The last time Oklahoma City took the court, the squad was without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, Cason Wallace, Jaylin Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein. A shorthanded team was able to claw back from a 21 point deficit on the road to beat the Memphis Grizzlies for the 12th straight time.
And on Sunday night, each of those players besides Hartenstein will return to the lineup to face off against the Miami Heat at The Paycom Center. While Gilgeous-Alexander, Holmgren and Wallace were only sidelined for that single game, it's the role-playing fan favorite's return that is the big news.
The last time Williams took the court was on December 13 against the San Antonio Spurs. In other words, the NBA Cup Semifinals in Las Vegas, Nevada. Williams has missed the past 13 games due to right heel bursitis.
OKC has missed the versatile big man's shooting, spacing, playmaking and rebounding. His absence has been even more pronounced and noticeable since Hartenstein has been on the shelf with a soleus strain. Oklahoma City has struggled in several games in which they have been outrebounded and could've used another big body in the paint.
The return of the reigning MVP, the Defensive Player of the Year frontrunner, the league leader in steals and OKC's third big man comes on the heels of Alex Caruso being back after missing two games. The Thunder are nearly healthy. The only players who remain out with injuries are Hartenstein, Nikola Topic and Thomas Sorber.
No timeline has been given on Hartenstein's impending return. Topic is still working his way back from testicular cancer recovery, but the #12 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft has been working out and shooting around with his teammates. Sorber will miss the entire 2025-2026 season as he recovers from an ACL injury.
The Thunder are getting healthy at the right time. The next five games on OKC's schedule are the Miami Heat in Oklahoma City, a fourth matchup with the San Antonio Spurs in Oklahoma City, a road clash against the Houston Rockets, a rematch against the Heat in Miami and an away tilt with the Cleveland Cavaliers. That's a gauntlet of five teams with winning records including three road games. And one of those opponents is currently responsible for three of OKC's seven losses.
Oklahoma City is nearing full health. Just when they need it most.