April is nearly here, meaning the final couple of weeks of the NBA regular season have rolled around.
For most squads, having star players on the hardwood is crucial amid the playoff race. This isn't quite the case for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference locked up.
With a 60-12 record, the Thunder will own home-court advantage up to the NBA Finals, should they make it that far in the playoffs.
Still, there is a benefit to having the star players all on the floor together this late in the season.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is an MVP candidate and will be a finalist, with a supporting cast of Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams as co-stars.
Having the trio in good form and having spent plenty of time on the hardwood together this season will certainly show in the playoffs.
However, Williams has been out since mid-March with a hip injury that was supposed to be short-term. The first-time All-Star has yet to return to the court, though that should be on the horizon.
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Williams' injury status before Thunder-Grizzlies
As the Thunder are set to take on the Memphis Grizzlies, Williams has a questionable status.
Whether he will play or not is yet to be seen, and it will likely depend on how his hip responds in shootaround and a pre-game workout.
Regardless, it's encouraging that the star wing is questionable, signaling his return to the court is on the horizon.
Again, the club doesn't need Williams healthy quite yet. They've secured their spot in the standings and have proven to be able to pick up regular season wins without him, but finding form prior to postseason play will be crucial.
The Grizzlies, on the other hand, will be without Ja Morant as they continue to slip in the West.
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This story was originally published March 27, 2025 at 10:03 AM.
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