Jalen Williams returns to OKC Thunder lineup, slams door on Mavericks. 'He was himself'

If it was Dallas’ final chance, the last in a long line of endless and pesky windows, Jalen Williams quite literally slammed it shut.

With just over 50 seconds left in the Thunder’s 126-119 win Thursday, Williams’ 3-point attempt careened toward the left wing, where it found hyper-active rookie Cason Wallace’s clutch.

Even with a few possessions in its way and less than a minute to go, the Mavericks hadn’t exactly packed their bags. A game of runs and drawn fouls and Kyrie Irving wouldn’t let confidence escape so easily.

But stars will be stars. On a night without Luka Doncic, who didn’t travel to OKC after suffering an injury Wednesday, Irving (36 points, 12 assists) was a constant reminder. Irving’s shine was just eventually upended after a fourth quarter of promise from Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Mere seconds after Wallace’s rebound, Williams slipped behind a dazed Dallas defense for a violent, heart-piercing, shriek-inducing one-hand slam. Off two-feet, flexing both arms. No sign of survivors.

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It was an understandable exclamation point on a quarter that’d been his — both in his return Thursday from a one-game absence and well before then.

“He was himself,” Gilgeous-Alexander said of Williams, who finished with 27 points, four rebounds and five assists. “… He did tonight what he’s done all year for us.”

It started with Williams’ double-clutch midrange jumper with Dante Exum essentially underneath him. The next, where his momentum moved Exum out of the play entirely, spun around the rim before falling. He shoved a surging Dallas back. He gave OKC an 11-point lead in the fourth.

He seemingly made play after play while the Mavericks continued to reel the Thunder in.

All game it’d either been Dallas’ trips to the line slowing things down, swinging momentum. Or Daniel Gafford, an efficient wonder, who added 19 points and 15 rebounds while constantly in the air or around the rim. Or Irving, whose mastery knew no bounds Thursday.

Killing any drop coverage OKC played out the gate, finishing impossible shots, showing off unseen levels of touch. Irving was repetitive. He delivered nine points in the fourth, separating himself in game in which both teams shot at least 51% from the field and 41% from 3. Irving’s game questioned whether the Thunder could seal the deal.

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Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander were the answer to move the Thunder (46-20) back atop the Western Conference.

Williams with his intensity and shotmaking. Gilgeous-Alexander with his methodically slowed footing, his warp of time that came from drawing enough fouls to shoot 15 free throws. The inevitability that granted him another 31-point performance, as well as nine rebounds and five assists.

Atop all the layers of the game and its fourth — possessions like Lu Dort’s lane steal, or the around-the-world movement that saw OKC drill a pivotal 3 with just over six minutes to play — SGA and Williams combined for 20 points in the final quarter. It was the necessary kick that served as separation in a make-or-miss league.

Just the thing stars do.

“When you grow up watching basketball, that’s what you see," Williams said. "You watch the biggest stars make those plays. That’s the position every player wants to be in. I think for me, it’s just more excitement to be able to be in those positions. … Those are moments we all live for.”

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Jalen Williams' energy in return

There was almost a tangible aura about him. Not an uncommon one, but a radiation that Williams emanated as he navigated the Mavericks.

A youthful level of energy and intensity that should be there in a second-year player. Even if they’re a full-fledged star, which Williams has become. Seen after being ripped by Irving, who he chased down and stretched the length of his wingspan to swat a layup that would’ve otherwise been guaranteed.

Williams blocked two more shots. He screamed and energized a crowd that clearly missed him, even if just for one game. He defended well, he seized the moments that called upon him. He delivered an all-around performance that carried some level of normalcy. Something that perhaps isn’t so common for players that have been seen carrying the kind of load he’s taken on.

“It comes from how hard he plays,” coach Mark Daigneault said of Williams’ energy. “It's really that simple. It’s interesting to see guys that can get a lot of minutes, that can bite into your effort and energy over the course of a long season. And when you get the ball more, that can bite into your effort and your energy. That’s human nature.

“As he’s earned having the ball more, his energy, his defense, his effort, his intensity — none of that stuff has dropped off.”

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Thunder at Grizzlies

TIPOFF: 7 p.m. Saturday at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn. (Bally Sports Oklahoma)

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder beats Mavericks, moves into tie atop Western Conference