Jalen Williams Debuts vs Suns After Wrist Recovery

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams is set to make his season debut on Friday against the Phoenix Suns in a 2025 NBA Cup game, marking the end of his monthslong recovery from wrist surgery.

The 24-year-old, who missed the first 19 games of the 2025-26 season, underwent an initial procedure in early July to repair a torn scapholunate ligament in his right wrist. The injury had plagued him throughout the Thunder's 2025 postseason run, where he played through pain with numbing injections before each game. Williams required a second surgery in late October to remove a screw causing irritation, briefly delaying his return. Prior to Wednesday's game against Minnesota, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault described Williams as day-to-day, praising his dedication to rehabilitation. "He's doing a great job," Daigneault said. "There's so much invisible work that goes into a return to play."

Despite Williams' absence, the Thunder have maintained dominance, entering Friday with an 18-1 record, the best start in the NBA and tied for the second-best through 19 games in league history, behind only the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors. Their 16.5 point differential stands as the highest...