Thunder guard Jalen Williams out for Game 7 vs Spurs

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams has been ruled out for Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night due to a left hamstring strain. The decisive game, which will determine who advances to face the New York Knicks for the NBA championship, will be played in Oklahoma City.

Williams aggravated the injury in Game 2 of this series and subsequently missed Games 3, 4, and 5. He attempted a return in Game 6 on Thursday, coming off the bench for 10 minutes, but was limited. He missed his only field goal attempt, scored one point from the free-throw line, committed two turnovers, and finished with a minus-18 rating in a 118-91 loss that tied the series at 3-3.

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said after the game that Williams was clearly not at full health. The coach described the brief appearance as an attempt to see what Williams could contribute in an insulated role, noting the player had not completed a full return-to-play protocol as he would during the regular season. The team officially listed Williams as out on its injury report Friday evening.

His absence is a significant blow for the defending champions. Williams, a 25-year-old...