Every OKC fan had their heart in their mouth for a moment when Jalen Williams went down on Wednesday. The 23-year-old did nothing but come in the way of a lightning-fast Jonathan Kuminga-runway dunk. During that explosive sacrifice, the Golden State Warriors forward’s hand unintentionally hit Williams’ face, leaving him shaking on the floor with immense pain. Following a brief pause in the game, the OKC Thunder star was sent to the locker room and didn’t return for the rest of the night.

The question is, will he play against the Los Angeles Lakers tomorrow?

Well, looking at the Thunder’s injury report, it looks like Jalen Williams will lace up for the action! The team’s injury report already has a long list of players dealing with injuries, including Chet Holmgren (hip) and Alex Caruso (hip). Fortunately, Williams, who was on the list for a brief period after the injury, has gotten out of it. Most importantly, he is available for tomorrow’s challenge in LA.

When Jalen Williams went down holding his face in the late end of the first half, everyone suspected a concussion. And, to further add to it, the forward had a wobbly movement once he got off the floor, showing signs of trouble. This would have made the Thunder’s situation much worse, considering that the player had to at least miss the next three games. Fortunately, it wasn’t a concussion, but an eye injury.

We have seen plenty of eye injuries on the floor, especially Anthony Davis. The big man somehow managed to make it to the next game. Similarly, Williams also seems to have found a way. Notably, he shared a selfie on his Instagram with “Hoooray” on it from the locker room, hinting that it likely wasn’t serious.

What is the cost of Jalen Williams’ absence from the OKC Thunder?

It’s indeed immeasurable, considering the talent that he brings to the floor. When Chet Holmgren went down with a fractured hip, the team didn’t have Isaiah Hartenstein healthy to replace the number 5 spot. At that time, it was Williams who took up the responsibility. Even though he managed to lodge 20+ppg, the team struggled a bit with the rebounds.

But after Hartenstein made his entry, the team’s rebound issues were sorted and Williams’ scoring pursuit continued from his usual position. However, if Williams missed out, the team doesn’t really have a replacement on the scoring front.

Especially, in the last game against the Warriors, OKC struggled offensively with the entire responsibility rested on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s shoulder. There was even a stretch in the fourth quarter, where both teams went scoreless for three minutes straight.

Nevertheless, the Thunder somehow managed to steal the win in the final moments against a Stephen Curry-less Warriors side. Moreover, with Holmgren and Caruso still on the IR, the team can’t afford to miss another key player from the starting lineup. Especially when they are defending the top seed. Will the Thunder defend their crown? Let us know in the comments.