Sports

Williams Leads Thunder with 11 Points, Three Triples in Loss to Rockets

By Raphielle Johnson

Kenrich Williams finished Saturday’s loss to the Houston Rockets with 11 points, seven rebounds, two assists and three three‑pointers. He shot 3‑of‑7 from the field and 2‑of‑2 from the free‑throw line. After scoring 10 points in his first two starts of the season, Williams added 11 on Saturday. His performance was most valuable in three‑point shooting and rebounding, but it does not make him a must‑add heading into Oklahoma City’s four‑game Week 3. The Thunder will play two games against Cleveland to start the week, and head coach Mark Daigneault may consider a larger lineup to match up with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. If so, Williams or Jared McCain (10‑4‑2‑1) could be moved to the bench. According to MacMahon, Chet Holmgren underwent a biological treatment on Friday to address a small patellar tendon tear in his right knee. With Jalen Williams (ankle/fibula) and Cason Wallace (shoulder) facing extended absences, and given Holmgren’s injury history, fantasy managers should expect the Thunder to be very cautious with his rehab process. Kenrich Williams should remain in the starting lineup for the foreseeable future, and Aday Mara’s playing time should increase. Holmgren’s absence raises Isaiah Hartenstein’s fantasy ceiling. Unfortunately, Holmgren sitting out Monday’s win over the Suns wasn’t solely because it was Oklahoma City’s second game in as many nights. Williams moved into the starting lineup and played 24 minutes against Phoenix; he should fill a similar role on Wednesday. McCain was one of three replacements in the Thunder starting lineup on Monday. With Cason Wallace (shoulder) and Jalen Williams (ankle/leg) needing surgery, McCain has a good chance of staying a starter for the long haul. He shot 4‑of‑7 from beyond the arc against the Suns and recorded a complete stat line, playing 30 minutes. Like Ajay Mitchell, McCain is a must‑add if he’s on the waiver wire. The Thunder have three new starters for Monday’s game, and two (McCain and Mitchell) could hold onto those roles for the foreseeable future. Cason Wallace (shoulder) and Jalen Williams (ankle/fibula) could miss the rest of the season due to injuries that require surgery. “Kenny Hustle” starts for Chet Holmgren, who is dealing with right patellar tendinitis. Williams’s injury was gruesome, and this diagnosis confirms it. General manager Sam Presti said a timeline will be provided following the surgery, but at this time, it’s unclear exactly how long he’ll be out. However, given the severity, it will be a lengthy absence for him. Jared McCain and Ajay Mitchell should both take on larger roles with Cason Wallace (shoulder) set to undergo surgery as well. The Thunder lost Cason Wallace (shoulder) in the first quarter on Sunday. While Mitchell wasn’t the choice to start the third quarter, his role will expand if Wallace misses time. Jared McCain (three points, one rebound, one steal, and one three‑pointer) replaced Wallace, and he can provide points and three‑pointers in that role. However, Mitchell is the better option for fantasy managers left choosing between the two on the waiver wire. McCain was on fire from beyond the arc in this game and was able to spark some runs for the Thunder. He matched his career high for three‑pointers in a game, which he also did twice during the first month of his rookie season. McCain was an excellent addition for the Thunder last season, and he’s going to continue to make an impact off the bench this year. However, managers shouldn’t be rushing to the waiver wire after this since he likely won’t have performances of this magnitude consistently. McCain led Oklahoma City in scoring in just 19 minutes in the overtime win. Sam Presti already hyped him up before the preseason began, and he has shown why during the preseason, having now hit 13 triples across three games. When the team is fully healthy, his role will likely be too limited for him to make an impact for fantasy managers, but it should be large enough for him to be an important piece in OKC’s rotation. Not only will all three take on larger roles with Luguentz Dort now in Atlanta, but Presti is expecting genuine jumps in their production. All three players had strong stretches for OKC last season, and they’ll be relied on once again to help the Thunder get back on track after losing in the Western Conference Finals last season. Wallace seems like the most likely choice to start, but Mitchell and McCain will play big minutes off the bench. Williams is now set to return to the Thunder for his seventh season with the organization and ninth in the NBA. The 31‑year‑old shooting guard is a role player, but also a career 36.8% three‑point shooter who shot 38.8% from behind the three‑point line last season. Williams has more real‑life value, especially to a contending team like the Thunder, than in fantasy basketball.