Northwestern notes: Williams, Nuggets, Thunder, McDaniels

Star Thunder forward Jalen Williams left the first half of Oklahoma City’s 105-101 road win over the Warriors on Wednesday with a right eye injury, per Joel Lorenzi of The Oklahoman.

All-NBA Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander struggled mightily without Williams. He shot just 5-for-16 from the floor in the second half.

Oklahoma City downtown Isaiah Hartenstein believed that the team’s general approach to the game should not have changed much, even with the absence of Williams late. Instead, when Gilgeous-Alexander’s shots weren’t falling, the team struggled to shut down Golden State and nearly squandered its 19-point lead.

“But it shouldn’t change the way we play,” Hartenstein said of Williams’ departure. “I think we didn’t execute like we should have. … We shouldn’t have been in that situation.”

There is more from the North West:

• The Nuggets have struggled to score in “between eight” of their first half – the last four minutes of the first quarter and the first four minutes of the second, notes Bennett Durando of The Denver Post. “We talked about it the other day, about how I think there’s only one time in the first 16 games this season where we’ve won the last four minutes of the first quarter and the first four minutes of the second quarter, “ head coach Michael Malone said. “Every other game (we lose) the eight-minute stretch that usually coincides with Nikola (Jokic) to be out. So there are many nights where I think we actually get off to a good start. That we actually play well. And then we have that stretch, that stretch of four, six, eight minutes where the bottom falls out. … And the second half, for whatever reason, has been better.” According to Durando, Denver ranked No. 2 overall in second-half net rating prior to their most recent matchup, and the No. 29 in the first half.
• In addition to their offensive problems in the “between eight” period of the first half, is Nuggets has also shown slips in defense early this season, partly thanks to Aaron Gordons longer absence. During their 122-103 win on Wednesday against the Jazz, the Nuggets at least also looked much improved on that end of the floor, writes Durando in another Denver Post story. Point guard Jamal Murray picked off opponents for all 94 feet. “Be more physical from the start of the possession,” Murray said of his better defensive effort. “Not (letting) them get to their seats easy or set their screens where they want to set it. Stuff like that. So I think as a group, not just one or two guys, but getting everybody to do that (is important).And we did a good job of talking — I’m talking about this game. But we did a better job today of switching and even if there’s one mistake or a stroke past, we have help behind it.”
• After being named to the 2024 All-Defensive Second Team, Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels looks to level up this season and is aiming to be named to the All-Defensive First Team in 2025, writes Marc J. Spears of Andscape. He is currently in the first season of a five-year, $131MM contract extension he signed with Minnesota in the 2023 offseason. “It’s one of my goals, to be (first team),” McDaniels said. “I was (second team) last season. It’s a big goal. First team, we take the first step by step. For me, I guard the best players. I don’t shut them down, but I make it difficult for them. I make their (shot) percentages lower.