From his late-game buckets to his post-game barks, Jalen Williams has ensured that the Oklahoma City Thunder’s chase for a championship has come with a youthful vigor. But with the fourth quarter’s score too close for comfort and the Dallas Mavericks determined to steal control of the series in their backyard, the second-year star decided it was time to put the game on a leash. One play removed from hitting a 3-pointer that stretched the Thunder’s lead to double-digits, Williams chains the sequence with another, getting Tim Hardaway Jr. to bite ever-so-slightly on the threat of a shot before working a stepback into the now-vacated space, setting the stage for another triple to the delight of the home crowd. A verified, top-tier performer in crunch time throughout the regular season, Williams found no issue translating it to the bright lights of the postseason, with this bucket serving as part of a personally-manufactured 8-0 run in the fourth quarter. Tallying 10 of his 18 points in the final frame, Williams helped the Thunder secure a series-opening, runaway win on May 7, 2024. Versatile along the way, he also added five rebounds, five assists, one block, and a pair of 3-pointers. · May 8, 2024