After missing long stretches of the season, Oklahoma City Thunder star guard Jalen Williams is finally settling into a rhythm.

That’s exactly what the Thunder hoped for from the All-Star guard as the regular season comes to a close.

Williams and the Thunder host the Utah Jazz on Sunday, as one of the top teams in the Western Conference battles against the team tied for last.

“I feel like I haven’t played all year. I got pretty fresh legs right now, which will serve me well,” Williams said. “I feel like we only have a certain amount of games left, so I’ll probably go into these playoffs pretty fresh, God willing.”

While Williams scored just 10 points in Oklahoma City’s 139-96 blowout of the Lakers on Thursday, it might’ve been his most complete game this season, as he finished with nine rebounds, eight assists, and two steals.

“I’ve always kind of tried to play that way, with a high motor,” Williams said. “I feel like that’s when I’m my best.”

Though Oklahoma City has the NBA’s best record, they’re still in a tight race with San Antonio for the top spot overall with just five games remaining.

It’s much different than a year ago when the Thunder had the top seed long wrapped up by the close of the regular season.

Oklahoma City (61-16) has won four consecutive games and 16 of its last 17.

“Our biggest thing as a team is we actually do not care if you’re bored watching us, to be completely honest with you,” Williams said after Thursday’s win. “That goes for me on down. We’re trying to win basketball games at the end of the day, just like everybody else. That’s our superpower. You’re not getting bored with the process. We don’t take wins like this for granted. If you don’t come and bring it, you can lose to anybody in the NBA.”

That was tested a bit the last time the Thunder and Jazz met, Jan. 7 in Oklahoma City, when Utah took the Thunder to overtime before Oklahoma City escaped with a 129-125 victory.

The other two matchups between the teams this season — both in Salt Lake City — have been blowout victories for the Thunder.

The Jazz (21-57) come into the game on an eight-game losing streak and have gone 3-19 since the All-Star break.

While Oklahoma City has returned to health recently — though Luguentz Dort left Thursday’s win after crashing hard to the floor — Utah has dealt with a rash of injuries.

The Jazz’s top three scorers — Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George, and Jaren Jackson Jr. — have missed extended time recently, opening the door for more playing time for young players like Brice Sensabaugh, Kyle Filipowski, and Cody Williams.

Utah coach Will Hardy said he’s encouraged by the performance of that young trio, especially in the confines of the Jazz’s system.

“It’s not opportunity that is based around, like, ‘Hey man, do your thing,’ … It’s still within the team construct,” Hardy said. “And so, the thought process there is that it can translate (in the future).”

–Field Level Media

Munetaka Murakami and Colson Montgomery homered to key a go-ahead sixth-inning rally and Miguel Vargas had two hits as the host Chicago White Sox defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 on Saturday.

Chicago earned a series victory against the reigning American League champion Blue Jays, losers of four of five after winning three straight to start the season.

Seranthony Dominguez worked around a leadoff walk and pinch-hit single in the ninth to pick up his first save.

Murakami drove in three runs, including the first of the afternoon on an RBI sacrifice fly in the first inning. That staked left-hander Anthony Kay to an advantage before he entered the game.

Kay followed opener Grant Taylor, who retired the Blue Jays in order in the top of the first. Kay walked Kazuma Okamoto to begin his outing before settling in. Toronto threatened in the fourth inning, loading the bases with one out, but Kay escaped trouble by getting a pair of fly-ball outs.

The Blue Jays broke through with a pair of runs in the sixth, as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. smacked his first home run of the season. Kay exited after retiring Okamoto on a groundout one batter later. He scattered two runs and three hits in 4 1/3 innings with two walks.

Chicago answered the Guerrero Jr. blast quickly, reaching left-hander Brendon Little (0-2) for three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Vargas led off with a double and Murakami followed with his first home run at Rate Field and fourth of the season. A former slugger in Japan’s Central League, Murakami signed a two-year, $34 million contract with the White Sox in December.

Montgomery homered two batters later for a 4-2 Chicago lead. The Blue Jays loaded the bases in the seventh with one out but scored just one run. Nathan Lukes flied into a sac fly double play, and Myles Straw scored before Chicago erased Tyler Heineman at third.

Heineman, the Blue Jays’ catcher, committed a throwing error in the eighth that allowed two runs to score for the final margin.

Chris Murphy (1-0) got the win, allowing one run and two hits in one inning of relief.

Toronto placed catcher Alejandro Kirk (left thumb fracture) on the 10-day injured list before the game.

–Field Level Media

Jo Adell robbed three Mariners of homers and Zach Neto hit a leadoff homer in the first to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 1-0 victory over Seattle on Saturday night at Anaheim, Calif.

Adell robbed Cal Raleigh in the first inning, Josh Naylor in the eighth and J.P. Crawford in the ninth with stellar grabs in right field as the Angels won for just the second time in the past seven games. The last one was challenged as he fell over the short wall in the right field corner into the stands while making the catch but upheld.

Jack Kochanowicz (1-0) allowed four hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings for Los Angeles, which got two hits from Neto including his 10th career leadoff homer.

Emerson Hancock (1-1) allowed one run on six hits over 6 2/3 innings. Julio Rodriguez had two of the Mariners’ five hits, but Raleigh remains homerless through nine games after smashing 60 last season.

Yankees 9, Marlins 7

Giancarlo Stanton hit a tiebreaking two-run single with two outs in the eighth inning and New York continued its hot start by hanging on for a victory over visiting Miami.

Cody Bellinger contributed to the Yankees erasing a four-run deficit through four innings by driving in three runs. Judge (2-for-4, two runs) was the lone Yankee with multiple hits as New York collected six hits, but drew ten walks from Miami pitchers. Brett Headrick (1-0) recorded the win by ending the top of the eighth after Javier Sanoja’s game-tying double.

Edwards went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI single in the ninth for the Marlins, who saw Michael Peterson (1-1) take the loss.

Pirates 3, Orioles 2

Nick Yorke hit the game-winning double in the ninth as host Pittsburgh rallied past Baltimore.

Dennis Santana (2-0) was the winning pitcher with an inning of shutout relief. Yorke delivered the deciding hit off Ryan Helsley (0-1) to end the game. Pirates starter Carmen Mlodzinski lasted 4 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits.

Adley Rutschman had two of Baltimore’s six singles. The Orioles scored two runs in the fourth on singles by Dylan Beavers and Leody Taveras. Baltimore led until the eighth. Orioles starter Shane Baz held the Pirates to one unearned run on three hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Tigers 11, Cardinals 6

Kerry Carpenter, Zach McKinstry and Matt Vierling hit two-run homers and host Detroit slugged its way to a victory over St. Louis.

The game was called after 8 1/3 innings due to inclement weather and poor field conditions. Carpenter, McKinstry and Vierling drove in three runs apiece. Gleyber Torres had two hits, including a homer, and scored twice.

Brant Hunter (1-0) picked up the win, tossing one inning of scoreless relief. Jordan Walker hit a grand slam and drove in five for the Cardinals. Starter Dustin May (0-2) gave up seven runs and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings.

White Sox 6, Blue Jays 3

Munetaka Murakami and Colson Montgomery homered to key a go-ahead sixth-inning rally and Miguel Vargas added two hits as host Chicago defeated Toronto.

Murakami drove in three runs and Vargas scored a pair. Chris Murphy (1-0) got the win, allowing one run and two hits in one inning of relief. Seranthony Dominguez worked around a leadoff walk and pinch-hit single in the ninth to pick up his first save.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. smacked his first home run of the season, a two-run blast to left-center in the sixth to give the Jays a short-lived 2-1 lead. Reliever Brendon Little (0-2) gave up three runs in the bottom of the inning.

Brewers 5, Royals 2 (Game 1)

Garrett Mitchell doubled, homered, and racked up five RBIs for visiting Milwaukee in a win over Kansas City. Luis Rengifo was 2-for-5 with two doubles and a run, and Christian Yelich was 2-for-5 with two runs for the Brewers.

Brewers starting pitcher Chad Patrick (1-0) picked up the win as he went five innings and gave up four hits. Trevor Megill threw a scoreless ninth inning to earn his second save of the season.

Luinder Avila (0-1) took the loss for the Royals, as he only lasted three innings, surrendering eight hits and five runs. Jac Caglianone was 2-for-3 with a walk, and Lane Thomas and Bobby Witt Jr. each had an RBI for the Royals.

Royals 8, Brewers 2 (Game 2)

Salvador Perez’s sixth-inning home run ignited the Kansas City offense to split a doubleheader with visiting Milwaukee.

The Royals sent 12 batters to the plate in the decisive six-run frame, nine of those with two outs. Nick Mears (1-0) picked up the win in relief for Kansas City after one inning of work. Eli Morgan pitched the final three innings to notch his first save. Maikel Garcia was 3-for-5 with a double, a run and an RBI, while Carter Jensen was 2-for-3 with a run, a double, two RBIs and a walk.

Brandon Sproat (0-1) was saddled with the loss as he pitched 3 2/3 innings of relief, surrendering four hits and four runs. Brice Turang and Garrett Mitchell drove in the Brewers’ runs.

Phillies 2, Rockies 1

Jesus Luzardo pitched strongly into the seventh, striking out 11 and Trea Turner had two hits with the game-winning RBI in Philadelphia’s win over Colorado in Denver.

Luzardo (1-1) allowed just one run on five hits over 6 2/3 innings to bounce back from a rough first start. Jhoan Duran retired the side in order in the ninth for his third save to secure Philadelphia’s fourth consecutive win. Kyle Schwarber also drove in a run with an RBI double as the game’s second batter.

Brett Sullivan had two hits and the lone RBI for Colorado, which is 1-4 in one-run games. Rockies batters fanned 13 times and drew only one walk. Chase Dollander (1-1) struck out six in 4 1/3 innings of relief work, but took the loss.

Dodgers 10, Nationals 5

Andy Pages slugged a three-run homer among his three hits, Freddie Freeman doubled twice and drove in four runs, and visiting Los Angeles beat Washington.

Will Smith also had three hits and Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Tucker and Alex Call each had two of the Dodgers’ 16 hits. Pages leads the majors in hits while batting .500 (15-for-30). Los Angeles star shortstop Mookie Betts exited in the middle of the first inning of the game due to right lower back pain and was replaced by Miguel Rojas.

CJ Abrams hit a two-run homer and Luis Garcia Jr. went 3-for-4 with an RBI for Washington, which lost its fourth straight and has been outscored 23-11 in the first two games of the weekend series.

Padres 3, Red Sox 2

Ramon Laureano’s two-out RBI single in the top of the ninth inning propelled visiting San Diego to a win over Boston.

The Padres found two-out magic to take the lead for good, as Fernando Tatis Jr. ripped a double over Ceddanne Rafaela’s head in center field to set the stage for Laureano’s heroic knock. San Diego got six one-run innings from Randy Vasquez, with Adrian Morejon (1-0) recording the win despite blowing a save opportunity.

Rafaela and Roman Anthony each had two hits for the Red Sox, who saw closer Aroldis Chapman take his first loss of the season.

Diamondbacks 2, Braves 1

Michael Soroka threw five strong innings against his former team and Arizona scored a pair of unearned runs to earn a victory over Atlanta in Phoenix.

After Gabriel Moreno and Nolan Arenado singled in the bottom of the second, Jose Fernandez laid down a bunt and Bryce Elder’s errant throw sailed into right field, allowing both runners to score. Soroka (2-0) allowed one run on four hits and four relievers followed up with a perfect inning apiece, with the staff retiring the final 14 Braves batters.

Dominic Smith knocked in the Braves’ only run with a second-inning single, and Matt Olson’s third-inning double was the only extra-base hit of the game. Elder (1-1) took the loss despite allowing no earned runs on four hits over seven innings of work.

Reds 2, Rangers 0

Rhett Lowder pitched six shutout innings to lead Cincinnati to a win over Texas in Arlington, Texas.

Lowder (1-0) allowed three hits, with only one baserunner reaching second base against him. Cincinnati plated the only two runs of the game in the first inning on RBI singles from Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart.

Rangers starter Kumar Rocker (0-1) went five innings, giving up two earned runs on six hits in his first start of the season. Texas put runners on the corners in the ninth against Reds closer Emilio Pagan before Evan Carter struck out to end the game.

Rays 7, Twins 1

Jonathan Aranda and Yandy Diaz drove in two runs apiece, and Tampa Bay cruised to a win over host Minnesota.

Ben Williamson and Hunter Feduccia added one RBI apiece for the Rays, who got six innings of two-hit, one-run work on the mound from Steven Matz (2-0). Cedric Mullins and Chandler Simpson finished with two hits apiece.

Brooks Lee drove in the lone run for Minnesota. The Twins managed only three hits, none of which went for extra bases, with Mick Abel (0-2) allowing four runs over as many innings in his start.

Astros 11, Athletics 0

Christian Walker and Cam Smith hit homers and Houston recorded 18 hits as it blasted the Athletics in West Sacramento, Calif.

Tatsuya Imai (1-0) threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings to earn his first career major league win. Walker, Joey Loperfido, Yainer Diaz and Christian Vazquez led the way for the Astros with three hits and two RBIs each.

Athletics starter Luis Morales (0-2) gave up five runs in three-plus innings, allowing eight hits and six walks. Max Muncy had two of the Athletics’ five hits.

Mets 9, Giants 0

Tyrone Taylor capped a five-run fifth inning with a pinch-hit home run, Clay Holmes threw seven shutout innings and visiting New York made it two straight blowouts over San Francisco with its first shutout of the season.

Mark Vientos had three hits and scored twice, and Taylor had four RBI off the bench for New York, which saw Holmes allow just three hits over his extended outing. Tobias Myers retired all six batters he faced to preserve the shutout.

Corner infielders Matt Chapman and Jerar Encarnacion, both of whom were charged with errors on Carson Benge’s groundball that plated two runs in the second inning, had hits for the Giants, who saw starter Landen Roupp (1-1) roughed up to the tune of seven runs (five earned) over 4 2/3 innings.

–Field Level Media