Chet Holmgren made a triumphant return to the court, showcasing his defensive prowess and helping propel the Oklahoma City Thunder to a resounding victory over the Toronto Raptors. After being sidelined due to injury, Holmgren played 22 minutes in his first game back, contributing significantly to the Thunder's success. The team outscored the Raptors by 22 points while he was on the floor, underscoring his impact on the game.
Holmgren's return was highly anticipated, as he had previously played all 82 games in the 2023-24 season. During that period, he averaged 16.5 points and 7.9 rebounds, aiding the Thunder in securing the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. His defensive abilities were on full display as he stuffed a dunk attempt by Scottie Barnes in the fourth quarter and limited the Raptors to a mere 12.5% shooting in the paint when he was the contesting defender.
This season, Holmgren is holding opponents to an impressive 38.6% shooting in the paint, the best in the NBA. Despite taking only five shots during the game, he understood that scoring was not essential for him to influence the outcome. Before his injury, Holmgren averaged 16.4 points and 8.7 rebounds over ten games this season.
Holmgren was initially the second pick in the 2022 draft but missed his rookie season due to a foot injury. His return marked his first game playing alongside fellow big man Isaiah Hartenstein, who had been absent early in the season with a broken left hand. The Thunder improved their record to an impressive 41-9 with their win over Toronto.
Thunder fans eagerly welcomed Holmgren back, cheering during pregame warmups and erupting with applause when he became the first Thunder player introduced. Holmgren expressed his excitement about returning to play:
"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 look forward to continue to try and help us win and keep improving." – Chet Holmgren
Despite his impactful return, Holmgren emphasized that the focus remains on team performance rather than individual accolades:
"It's not going to be the Chet Holmgren show," – Chet Holmgren
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault praised Holmgren's return to action, highlighting that his journey back to peak performance is ongoing:
"It ties a bow on his return to play. His return to performance isn't over," – Thunder coach Mark Daigneault
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