While the OKC Thunder’s depth and elite shot-making carried them to a double-digit win, securing a 2-0 series lead, the availability of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams for the upcoming trip to Arizona is now the biggest concern after this game. The real story is unfolding off the court, where the status of these cornerstone players now looms as the defining question of the first-round series. Are the reigning champions in trouble?

The most immediate concern centers on Williams after a non-contact sequence. After an injury-cursed year, J-Dub was hit with yet another setback in the third quarter. He appears to have landed too hard while going for a layup that Suns’ defenders swatted away. That’s when he clutched the back of his thigh for the first time. When he tried to jog back to the other end, he was in visible pain. He intentionally committed a foul at the 5:53 mark to sub himself out of the game.

Williams looked at the Thunder’s bench, nodded, and mouthed “left.” Cason Wallace subbed in his place, and OKC soon ruled out J-Dub for the rest of the game with a left hamstring injury. Williams, who had only 33 regular-season appearances due to the same injury in his right hamstring, was torching the Suns with 19 points on 7 of 11 shooting in 23 minutes before he exited. Mark Daigneault confirmed the severity of the situation in the post-game presser.

“We think he aggravated his left hamstring,” the coach said. “We’ll take a look at it in the next couple of days, and we’ll update you guys appropriately… Any assumption about time [missed] is just hypothetical at this point, so I’m not going to comment on that. But I thought he was playing great, obviously. He was on the gas. He had great force. He was hitting shots. Got really good shots for his teammates, especially early. So yeah, he was playing an outstanding game.”

Williams did not speak to the media before leaving the Paycom Center. The timing is cruel for the All-Star wing. It appears to be a classic case of ‘contralateral injury’ wherein players returning from a hamstring strain on one side are at high risk of injuring the other, healthy side that’s overcompensating for the weakened leg. If very severe, it could sideline him for an extended period again. His injury troubles also extend to last season, when he played the entire playoffs with a torn scapholunate ligament in his right wrist, delaying surgery until after OKC’s championship run.

But while OKC has found a way to play without Williams time and again, they are still at risk of getting even more shorthanded. Compounding the anxiety for the OKC faithful was a first-quarter scare involving the newly crowned Clutch Player of the Year, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. After an awkward fall during a physical drive, Gilgeous-Alexander appeared to tweak his left hand. He was clutching his hand in pain and needed several moments on the bench.

Fans noticed a tense moment where trainers were seen working on his fingers. One spectator claimed that the trainer ‘popped’ his fingers back into place. However, unlike Williams, Shai stayed in the game and made several plays. The very next play after the injury, he hit a step-back jumper over Devin Booker. Fans picking up several clips of rampant ‘flopping’ and the lack of whistles for the Suns couldn’t overshadow SGA playing through visible pain. Every time he made a shot, he had to hunch over, holding his hand and willing the pain away. Daigneault was quick to praise his star’s poise under the physical pressure.

“Shai made the right play all night,” the coach said. “In the first half, I thought there were some shots he could have taken, and he found a more available shot for a teammate, and so I thought his floor game was outstanding… He seemed to spray it all over the place. Had a great tempo, and got us really good shots.”

While SGA’s 37-point explosion, including 13 of 25 from the field and a perfect 9 of 9 from the charity stripe, proved he could manage the discomfort, the trouble for the Thunder is far from over. Williams’ absence leaves a gap that Phoenix will look to exploit as Game 3 moves to their home on Friday. If he is unable to play, Ajay Mitchell, who played sparingly during last year’s title run, could step in. He averages 13.6 points and 3.6 assists this season. Gilgeous-Alexander has said that Mitchell is ready for an increased role either way. If this happens, the team will need even more from Chet Holmgren.

As of Thursday morning, Jalen Williams is still questionable for Game 3. The medical staff is also expected to monitor both his hamstring and SGA’s hand closely over the next 48 hours before a conclusive injury report.