Chet Holmgren didn’t just show up against the Pacers-he showed out. From the opening tip to the final buzzer, the 7-footer was everywhere, anchoring the paint, creating his own offense, and making life miserable for Indiana’s drivers. And while the Thunder fell just short in a 117-114 loss, Holmgren’s performance was a loud reminder of why he’s not just a rising star-he’s already one of the most impactful two-way players in the league.
Let’s start with the defense, because that’s where Holmgren made his presence felt early. Midway through the first half, Pascal Siakam looked like he had a clear path to an easy reverse layup-until Holmgren rotated over and erased it with a thunderous block.
Plays like that don’t always show up in the box score the way a three-pointer does, but they change the tone of a game. And Holmgren had several of them.
He finished with three blocks, but his impact went beyond the numbers. When he was on the floor, the Pacers hesitated to challenge the rim.
When he sat, Indiana attacked-and that’s when the scoreboard tilted.
Offensively, Holmgren was just as impressive. He poured in 25 points on an efficient 8-of-14 shooting night, added 13 rebounds, and chipped in three assists.
He knocked down two of his four attempts from deep and hit 7-of-8 from the line. But it wasn’t just about the stats-it was how he got them.
With OKC missing key pieces and lacking a true playmaker outside of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Holmgren had to create for himself. And he delivered.
On the game’s opening possession, Holmgren went straight at Siakam and buried a high-arching turnaround fadeaway that drew instant comparisons to Dirk Nowitzki. That wasn’t a one-off.
He repeatedly operated from the high post, using jab steps, spins, and footwork to carve out space and finish with finesse. Finger rolls, step-backs, fadeaways-he dipped into the full bag.
And he did it while maintaining elite efficiency, even as the degree of difficulty on his shots went up.
It might have been Holmgren’s most complete scoring performance to date. He wasn’t just finishing plays-he was initiating them. That’s a big leap for a rookie center, and it’s the kind of growth that turns potential into production.
And yet, despite Holmgren’s brilliance-and another monster night from Gilgeous-Alexander-the Thunder couldn’t get over the hump. Shai and Chet combined for 72 points, and still, it wasn’t enough.
That tells you all you need to know about the rest of the roster’s struggles. Outside of those two, the supporting cast just didn’t bring enough to the table.
In a tight game like this, that’s the difference between a win and a frustrating loss.
Still, as snow blankets Oklahoma City, there’s a silver lining: All-Star season is upon us, and the Thunder might be sending more than one representative to Los Angeles. Gilgeous-Alexander is already a lock, but Holmgren’s case is gaining steam-and his teammate isn’t shy about making the pitch.
“His impact in winning is second to none,” Gilgeous-Alexander said postgame. “If you don’t win, it doesn’t matter.
No matter what you’re going for. From the GM to the owner to the coach to the players to the fans.
Everybody wants to be part of a team that wins. Adding Chet Holmgren to your group adds wins.
We’ve seen it here firsthand. He continues to grow and get better with his skill and game.
It feels like he’s having the best year of his career.”
Hard to argue with that. Holmgren’s blend of rim protection, offensive versatility, and basketball IQ has transformed OKC’s ceiling.
He’s not just putting up numbers-he’s changing outcomes. And while this one didn’t go the Thunder’s way, Holmgren’s All-Star résumé just got a little stronger.
The loss stings. But the future? It’s looking brighter than ever in Oklahoma City.