Williams (rest) did not play in Saturday's preseason game against Indiana.

EDGE Analysis

Williams, along with several other regulars, got a planned night off for maintenance Saturday. Through two preseason appearances, Williams holds averages of 12.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 2.3 blocks and 3.0 three-pointers.

Williams will come off the bench during Thursday's preseason game against the Hornets, Clemente Almanza of USA Today reports.

EDGE Analysis

After starting the first two games of the preseason, Williams will be in the second unit. He finished with 14 points, six rebounds, two assists and two blocks across 28 minutes as a starter in Monday's loss to the Mavericks.

Williams compiled 14 points (5-14 FG, 4-11 3Pt), six rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots over 28 minutes in Monday's 106-89 loss to the Mavericks.

EDGE Analysis

Williams flashed some of his perimeter skills with four three-pointers during the defeat, a facet that he's shown sparingly over his three-year tenure with the Thunder. The team gave the Arkansas product a hefty $24 million extension in the offseason, and we should see an uptick in minutes from the youngster after averaging only 16.7 minutes per game during the 2024-25 campaign. He will still be in a timeshare with Isaiah Hartenstein once the regular season begins.

Williams will start in Sunday's preseason game against the Hornets, James Plowright of CLTure.org reports.

EDGE Analysis

With the team resting its usual starters, Williams will get the starting nod in Oklahoma City's preseason opener. The big man signed a three-year, $24 million extension this summer after averaging 5.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists across 16.7 minutes per game in 47 regular-season appearances (nine starts) during the 2024-25 campaign.

Williams signed a three-year, $24 million contract extension with the Thunder on Sunday, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Williams is now locked in with the Thunder on a long-term deal. The 23-year-old center provided a spark off Oklahoma City's bench in the 2024-25 campaign, showing flashes of potential when given an increased role. He averaged 5.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists across 16.7 minutes per game in 47 regular-season appearances (nine starts) last season.

Williams racked up zero points (0-1 FG, 0-1 3Pt), one rebound, two assists and one steal across five minutes during Wednesday's 124-94 win over the Timberwolves in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals.

EDGE Analysis

Williams failed to score for the fifth time in the past six games, two of which he failed to leave the bench. Despite recording three triple-doubles this season, Williams has been unable to carve out a consistent role for himself. In 10 games over the past month, he has averaged just 2.6 points and 1.9 rebounds in 9.7 minutes per contest.

Williams closed Thursday's 119-107 loss to Denver in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals with eight points (3-5 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 1-2 FT), five rebounds, two assists and one steal in 14 minutes.

EDGE Analysis

Isaiah Hartenstein was in some foul trouble as he continued to match up with Nikola Jokic, so credit to Williams for stepping up with some quality minutes off the bench. Williams has been used sparingly in the postseason, averaging 9.5 minutes per night with 3.3 points and 1.8 rebounds.

Williams will come off the bench during Sunday's Game 1 of the Western Conference quarterfinal-round series against the Grizzlies, Brandon Rahbar of DailyThunder.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

After playing two minutes as a starter during the regular-season finale against the Pelicans because of an ankle injury, Williams will be in the second unit for Oklahoma City to get the first-round series underway Sunday. The 22-year-old big man played 38 games in a reserve role during the regular season, averaging 4.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game, shooting 41.6 percent from the field.

Williams (ankle) has been upgraded to available for Game 1 against the Grizzlies on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

Williams exited the regular-season finale against the Pelicans with a left ankle injury, but the injury wasn't serious. He should see decent minutes off the bench as a frontcourt option as long as he stays healthy throughout the postseason.

Williams (ankle) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game against the Pelicans, Nick Gallo of the Thunder's official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Williams injured his left ankle in the first quarter, and while he was able to return from the locker room to the bench, he will not play during the rest of Sunday's contest. Branden Carlson will see an increase in playing time for the rest of the game in Williams' absence.