The Phoenix Suns were always going to struggle to make it a competitive series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but the timing of Mark Williams' latest injury hasn't helped.
The center was a scratch for the Game 1 loss, and the prognosis on getting him back on the court is far from positive according to head coach Jordan Ott.
Williams likely to be day-to-day for remainder of series
Coach Ott spoke to the media court side during availability ahead of Game 2 in Oklahoma City, and he admitted that Williams will almost certainly be day-to-day moving forward.
"We're just continuing to take it day-by-day."
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) April 21, 2026
Jordan Ott when asked if Mark Williams (left foot soreness) is out the remainder of the series vs OKC as he had a walking boot on after Tuesday's practice.
On if he's out for Game 2 tomorrow: "We're going to continue to take this… pic.twitter.com/R4tdrOZ0Yn
The timing of this is bad for both player and team, with Williams hoping to secure a hefty extension this offseason that will surely now come with stipulations thanks to his spotty injury history.
The 24-year-old sat for the entire fourth-quarter of the play-in loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, but this looked like the kind of series where he could make a difference.
You need only look at coach Ott's rotations during Game 1 to see that this is the case, with rookie big man Khaman Maluach playing 15 minutes.
This was done because the Thunder are big right across the frontcourt, and the best version of Williams that we saw this season would have actually matched up well against them inside.
His inclusion on the court also would have had the added benefit of covering up for some of Jalen Green's defensive inefficiencies. A problem coach Ott has to solve ASAP.
It is harder for guards who are bigger than Green and who can brush past him easily to penetrate the paint when Williams is lurking back there, and it is why Maluach got some unexpected run.
Instead his left foot soreness looks set to keep him out of what would be his first postseason experience, a sorry end to the best season of his career to date.
Williams is not alone in the poor timing of his injury here, with Grayson Allen and now Jordan Goodwin also hobbling when they are needed the most.
Not that this is a situation unique to the Suns, the Houston Rockets are learning all about what it means to have Kevin Durant in town right now.
This was always likely to be a short series, but Williams being out there could have prolonged it some and given him his first taste of playoff action. It could also impact his next contract as well.
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