Despite missing key starters, Jalen Williams ignited a massive comeback, orchestrating a 21-point rally to extend OKC's win streak over Memphis.
Jalen Williams pulled out his best performance of the season on the night when the Oklahoma City Thunder needed him most.
OKC entered Friday night's contest at Memphis missing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and Cason Wallace. In other words, the league MVP, the frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year, the team's leading rebounder and the NBA's leader in steals. For the the Thunder have a shot at beating the Grizzlies, Williams would have to be the All-Star player that he was for the entirety of last season en route to the NBA championship.
Mission accomplished.
Williams' final box score read 26 points on 9 of 18 shooting, 5 rebounds, 10 assists, 1 steal, 1 block and only 1 turnover. And most importantly: 1 win.
"He played with great force," Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said of Williams postgame. "He just kept competing on both ends of the floor."
And it took every bit of effort from Williams and the Thunder to pull out the improbable win without so many key players. OKC got down by as many as 21 points. They were down by 13 with 4:20 to go in the game. But Williams refused to let Memphis snap Oklahoma City's 11 game win streak over the Grizzlies.
The player once dubbed "4th Quarter JDub" scored 12 points and dished out 4 assists in the decisive final frame. Williams attacked the paint relentlessly and either finished at the rim or drew in defenders and kicked out to shooters. He finished as OKC's leading scorer and playmaker.
Williams is, of course, still recovering from offseason surgery to repair a torn ligament on his shooting wrist, as well as a follow up procedure. He missed the first 19 games of the 2025-2026 season as his wrist healed. The All-Star/All-NBA/All-Defense selection from one year ago has had to adjust to his current new normal on the fly and in real time.
"Dub is a special player. He's super huge for our team. His versatility. Everything he does on the court," Kenrich Williams, the other standout in OKC's big comeback win over the Grizzlies, said of Jalen Williams. "Seeing him have a game like this is good for his confidence moving forward. I had the same surgery so I know that's a super tough injury to come back from. As the games go on, I think his confidence will rise up as he starts getting more comfortable using that hand. He had a big game tonight both on offense and defense. Big shout out to Dub."