Thunder lose Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace to surgery as Doncic's 52 keeps Lakers unbeaten
OKC's Jalen Williams fractured his fibula and dislocated his ankle, and Cason Wallace tore his shoulder labrum. Both are out indefinitely.
The Oklahoma City Thunder's unbeaten start has come at a heavy price. The team announced on Monday that Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace both need surgery and are out indefinitely, a day after Williams was stretchered off late in a 108-101 win over the LA Clippers. On the same Sunday night, Luka Doncic scored 52 points as the Los Angeles Lakers came back to beat the Utah Jazz 132-123 and stay perfect.
Williams suffers fractured fibula and dislocated ankle
Williams was driving to the basket with about 1:15 left in Sunday's game when he was fouled from behind by Clippers guard Kris Dunn. He landed awkwardly and his left leg buckled beneath him. Play was held up for around five minutes while he was treated, and he gave the home crowd two thumbs up as he was taken off on a stretcher.
Tests confirmed a fractured fibula and a dislocated left ankle. General manager Sam Presti said no recovery timeline would be released until after surgery, but reports suggest Williams could miss several months and possibly the rest of the season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored a game-high 34 in the win, said the team had to "hold the fort down until he comes back."
The injury is another setback for a player whose recent seasons have been disrupted. Williams, 25, played only 33 regular-season games in 2025-26 because of wrist surgeries and hamstring problems, and his absence during the 2026 playoffs was a factor in OKC's Western Conference finals defeat. He was a key part of the Thunder's 2025 championship team, has been named All-Star and All-NBA, and is in the first year of a five-year, US$240 million extension.
Wallace also needs shoulder surgery
The Thunder also confirmed that Wallace, one of the league's best perimeter defenders, has a torn labrum in his left shoulder and will undergo surgery. He signed a five-year, US$139 million rookie-scale extension before the season. Like Williams, he is out indefinitely.
Losing two starters in the opening week leaves Mark Daigneault with major rotation questions. OKC are still 3-0, but their hopes of a second title in three years now depend on how others cover Williams' scoring and Wallace's defence.
Doncic's 52 powers Lakers comeback
In Los Angeles, the Lakers trailed Utah by 18 points and were down 47-29 after the first quarter before a 45-24 second quarter turned the game. Doncic finished with 52 points on 17-of-30 shooting, including eight three-pointers, plus 10 assists and eight rebounds. Austin Reaves added 29.
According to the NBA, Doncic became the first Laker to record at least 50 points, 10 assists, five rebounds and five three-pointers in a game. He also reached 3,000 points for the franchise in 95 games, faster than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's 109.
Other Sunday results
Six teams were 3-0 after the weekend: the Lakers, Thunder, Timberwolves, Pistons, Grizzlies and Rockets. Minnesota beat Toronto 117-94 behind Anthony Edwards' 26 points, Detroit beat Philadelphia 106-93 as Cade Cunningham posted 26 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, and Memphis beat Sacramento 123-112 with 31 points from Ty Jerome. Orlando won 111-102 against the winless New York Knicks for coach Sean Sweeney's first victory, and Indiana beat Brooklyn 136-109.
Key takeaways
- Jalen Williams fractured his fibula and dislocated his left ankle against the Clippers and needs surgery.
- Cason Wallace has a torn left shoulder labrum and will also have surgery; both are out indefinitely.
- Luka Doncic scored 52 as the Lakers rallied from 18 down to beat Utah and move to 3-0.
- The Thunder, Lakers, Wolves, Pistons, Grizzlies and Rockets were all 3-0 after Sunday.
FAQ
How did Jalen Williams get injured? He was fouled from behind on a drive late in Sunday's win over the Clippers and landed awkwardly, his left leg collapsing under him.
How long will Williams and Wallace be out? Both are out indefinitely. The Thunder will give timelines only after surgery, though several months is expected.
What records did Luka Doncic set against the Jazz? He became the first Laker with 50 points, 10 assists, five rebounds and five threes in one game, and the fastest Laker to 3,000 points.
Sources: NBA.com, ESPN, USA Today, Yahoo Sports