Chet Holmgren’s long -awaited return helps thunder top raptors

Oklahoma City-Chet Holmgren’s return from injury makes NBA-best thunder even better.

Last Seasons Runner-Up for Rookie of the Year was back in Oklahoma City’s starting lineup on Friday night after missing almost three months due to a pelvic break. The versatile 7-foot-1 forward had four points, five rebounds, four blocks and two steals under Thunder’s 121-109 Win Over Toronto Raptors.

“It’s fantastic,” he said. “I missed it for a long time and I worked really hard to be able to get back out there. So I’m happy and excited and looking forward to keeping trying to help us win and continue to improve us.”

He played 22 minutes, and Thunder Outscored Raptors with 22 points while on the floor.

Holmgren was the second election in the 2022 draft, but missed out on what would have been his rookie season due to a foot injury. He played all 82 games in 2023-24, an average of 16.5 points and 7.9 rebounds to help Thunder earn # 1 seed in the West.

He average 16.4 points and 8.7 rebounds in 10 games this season before he was injured. He was not expected to approach these numbers Friday.

“It ties a bow on his return to play. His return to achievement is not over,” said Thunder -Trainer Mark Daigneault. “It takes a while for a guy who has been out for so long, especially an lower body injury, to get back to game form, perseverance, rhythm, all these things. And then we continue to work with him on probably a week-to-week basis.

Holmgren could afford to ease his way in because his absence did a little to slow MVP practitioner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Thunder, sitting comfortably on top of West Standings. They improved to 41-9 with the victory over Toronto.

There was still great expectation for his return. Holmgren became cheerful during pregame warming, and the crowd was even higher when he became the first Thunder player to be introduced.

Holmgren’s first basket was a float from 4 meters just over two minutes into the game.

At Oklahoma City’s next basket, Holmgren drove to the paint, spun and found Center Isaiah Hartenstein, who drove to the track and made a float.

Holmgren’s second and final field goals, even in the first quarter, were created by the footwork that fans have come to expect. With his back to the basket he came to the right, then spun to the left and hit a fadeaway from just inside the free throwing line.

In the fourth quarter he blocked a dunk attempt from Scottie Barnes, his most emphatic play at night and symbolically for his overall strong defense.

According to the second spectrum, Holmgren held raptors for 1-of-8 shooting (12.5%) in the paint as the competitive defender. It is his second lowest field target percentage allowed in the paint in a game of his career. He now holds opponents at 38.6% to shoot in the paint as the competitive defender this season, the best in the NBA.

Holmgren and colleague Big Man Hartenstein played together for the first time this season. Hartenstein, a free agent picking up the last summer, missed the early part of the season due to a broken left hand.

Holmgren took only five shots because he knew he didn’t need to score to influence the game.

“It won’t be the Chet Holmgren show,” he said. “This is thunder. Whether I had an injury or not, that’s what it is. I just try to go out there and help the team in any way I can. I don’t expect to be like a sideshow from each other from what our goal is going Out there every single night, and it’s to win basketball games.

Daigneault said the deployment of such a talented player in a group that is successful can present challenges. He praised Holmgren for being a good teammate and making it easier.

“We do not ask that it should be perfect,” said DaigneAult. “It’s one of these things that if it takes a step backwards to take two steps forward, we’re willing to do it because we think it has a really high ceiling.”

Information from ESPN research and Associated Press was used in this report.