Alexander seemed to want — no, need — one of many potentially heartbreaking jumpshots to fall late Wednesday.  Because without Jalen Williams, the soul to Gilgeous-Alexander’s heart, the upbeat to his monotone,

The Thunder can't afford to miss Williams. The 23-year-old has stepped up as OKC's second All-Star since Holmgren suffered a hip fracture. As shown in the second half, the Thunder are significantly worse on both sides of the floor without him.

"I thought the stops and the competitiveness really won the game for us. We were down four with five to go, and we really dug in on that end of the floor," Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said. "Didn't really have much going offensively,