Thunder Will Face Celtics Without Their Star Player

The Boston Celtics will play the top-seeded team in the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday. However, the Thunder will play the Celtics without their top player, Jalen Williams.

Williams is ruled out due to a hip injury.

NBA insider Chris Haynes shared via X.

Oklahoma City Thunder star Jalen Williams (hip strain) is being ruled out of Wednesday’s clash with the Boston Celtics.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) March 11, 2025

Williams suffered the injury in the first half of Sunday's match against the Denver Nuggets.

His injury is a right hip strain. Williams suffered the injury after Nuggets forward Peyton Watson landed on him after Watson committed a foul halfway through the second quarter of that game.

Oklahoma City will likely lean on Cason Wallace, Isaiah Joe, and Alex Caruso to pick up the slack.

The Thunder will miss their All-Star guard for Wednesday's match. Prior to the Williams news, they had their hands full, and now, without their top player, it will be an uphill battle.

Williams has been great this season. He earned his first All-Star selection and is averaging 21.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.7 steals for the Western Conference-leading Thunder.

The Thunder want to be where the Celtics are, and they will likely need to beat Boston to earn the title this season. This is a potential finals preview, as both teams have proven they are the cream of the crop throughout the year.

Both teams rank in the top five of offensive rating (Celtics are third and the Thunder fourth), they are also in the top five in defense rating (Celtics rank fifth and Thunder are first), and both are in the top three in net rating (Celtics are third and the Thunder are first).

These twos are destined for a final run, but it won't be easy. The Thunder are young and unproven, with plenty of teams who could beat them in a series, like the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, and the Golden State Warriors.

As for the Celtics, their biggest threat appears to be the No. 1 seed in the East, the Cavaliers. Cleveland beat Boston twice this year and is at the top of many of the league's categories.

Oklahoma City hits the road against Boston, looking to continue its six-game road winning streak.

The Celtics are 23-11 in home games. Boston is sixth in the league, averaging 116.9 points, and is shooting 46.2 percent from the field.

The Thunder are 24-7 on the road. Oklahoma City ranks sixth in the league, averaging 14.3 made 3-pointers per game while shooting 36.7 percent from deep. Isaiah Joe leads the team, averaging 2.4 makes while shooting 39.7 percent from 3-point range.

Both teams are 8-2 in their last 10 games.

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