Outside of wins and losses, the most consequential part of the season for the Oklahoma City Thunder has been, and will continue to be, the development of rookie sensation Chet Holmgren.
Holmgren’s addition to an already promising OKC core has the league buzzing, and the performance of the young big-man has launched the Thunder into the class of the league’s elite.
Holmgren played one of his best games of the season earlier this week against Washington, and he looked to keep it going as OKC took on the Miami Heat.
Along with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, Holmgren fueled the OKC offense in a 128-120 win. Along with playing an important offensive role, Holmgren proved why he is already in consideration for the defensive player of the year award.
Against Miami, Holmgren had three blocks, and also thwarted several Heat layup attempts with heavy contests and an overpowering presence that doesn’t show up in the stat sheet.
Holmgren played only six first quarter minutes, but he made his presence felt from the opening tip.
Holmgren had five points, including a physical and-one that saw him finish a tough shot through perennial defensive player of the year candidate Bam Adebayo. Following the impressive offensive display, Holmgren went to the bench and watched as Gilgeous-Alexander and the Heat lineup exchanged blows. Despite a 5-and-6 start from Gilgeous-Alexander, Miami took a 35-29 lead into the second quarter.
Holmgren re-entered the game to start the second, and he immediately began to assert himself. Following a missed layup, Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez corralled the loose ball and dashed to the rim. Holmgren stood his ground under the rim as Jaquez elevated toward the hoop. A chance for an early-career highlight flashed before Jaquez’ eyes, but Holmgren stopped the shot and sent him to the line, where he split his free throws.
By description alone, you would think Holmgren did no more than foul an opposing shooter, but the eye test says that he made a play that few players, not to mention rookies, could have made, stopping a potentially momentous dunk from a fan favorite in the early going.
Holmgren followed up the play by showing off his touch, finishing two lobs around the rim with tip-ins, including one that would have skied over the hands of any other player on the OKC roster due to an errant pass from Jalen Williams.
Despite shooting a ridiculous 69.2% from the field in the first half, Holmgren and the Thunder were unable to slow down the Miami offense, which shot 59% from the field, and 45% from three, and went into the half trailing 69-65.
Outside of his usual blocks, Holmgren did exactly what he has done all season for OKC in the first half. He scored nine points, pulled down four rebounds, and also had two assists, helping the Thunder keep within an arms length throughout the first two quarters.
OKC’s first half was highlighted by Holmgren’s awe-inspiring lob finishes, a couple of threes from way downtown by Isaiah Joe, and 12 points from Gilgeous-Alexander. Despite lots of positives, OKC’s defense was cause for concern, and the Thunder would have to get back to playing like themselves if they wanted to escape with a win.
The Thunder came flying out of the halftime break, opening the third quarter with an 13-0 run that included a Holmgren three-point play in which he took the ball coast-to-coast and finished through contact with his off-hand. Holmgren was joined by Cason Wallace, Josh Giddey, and Gilgeous-Alexander in fueling the early run.
Holmgren’s brilliance continued to shine alongside OKC’s offense. Whether it be a baseball pass fired crosscourt with pinpoint accuracy, finishing another lob despite being fouled, or rejecting the shot of Jaquez, the rookie was the story of the third for the Thunder.
OKC’s offensive explosion was slowed down when Miami switched to a zone defense, which confused the typically decisive shooters of the Thunder, and allowed the Heat to wrestle back within three as the buzzer sounded.
Led by Jalen Williams, OKC stretched its lead to nine in the early minutes of the third quarter. During that time, Holmgren had an emphatic block, and followed it by tipping it to his teammate to attempt and jumpstart a fast break.
The tandem of Holmgren and Williams dominated Miami in the fourth, taking over the game and expanding the lead to 16 before Gilgeous-Alexander returned midway through the quarter.
Holmgren’s presence was evident throughout the final stanza to anyone watching. Attacking Heat players would often look toward the rim, only to see Holmgren, which would often lead to a tough turnaround jumper or a pass out to the perimeter.
As soon as Holmgren went to the bench, Jaquez went on a run, cutting the OKC lead to nine and grabbing back some of the momentum.
Holmgren checked back in and ripped it right back, punishing the Miami zone with a three, and then running out in transition and making a contested layup on the following possession.
The Heat stayed within striking distance, but it seemed that whenever they would start to get close, Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, or Holmgren would make a soul-snatching shot. The contributions of OKC’s big three gave the Thunder the edge, with their combined 70 points proving to be to much for Miami to overcome.
Holmgren sealed the win with a run out dunk after a missed Tyler Herro three, and followed that with a disrespectful chase down block on Herro following a bad pass. That display got Holmgren’s totals to 23 points, nine rebounds and two assists.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring prowess, Williams special ability to get a shot for himself or a teammate, and Holmgren’s two-way dominance have allowed the young trio to establish themselves a true big three in less than 40 games. Against Miami, all three put their skills on full display, but it was Holmgren’s defense that allowed OKC to shut down the Heat’s offense in the second half, and eventually escape with a win.
