The Oklahoma City Thunder welcomed the Golden State Warriors while needing all of their artillery. That was the case for half of the first quarter. And then, within a moment, they lost their premier shot blocker, Chet Holmgren. The rim protector stuck true to his role, trying to contest a layup from Andrew Wiggins. However, the damage he took now has us fans worrying. Holmgren took a hard fall, landing heavily on his right leg. The severity was realized immediately as the 22-year-old center didn’t move after his fall.

While he gripped his right ankle, the medical staff rushed to the floor. While Chet Holmgren did get up, he required help and couldn’t even put any of his weight on his right foot. OKC Thunder then soon announced Holmgren won’t return to the game. The fear is palpable. By the looks of it, it could be another long-term injury for the 7’1″ skillful center.

Chet Holmgreen had his rookie season derailed because of a Lisfranc fracture in his right foot. This last season, the dynamic big man participated in all 82 games, erasing questions regarding his durability. Unfortunately, even though it’s still in the balance, Holmgren’s health could become a concern this season. Through his second year with OKC, Chet has solidified himself as a significant contributor to the improved Thunder roster. Averaging  18.2 points and 2.9 blocks, the hoopster was essential to the Thunder’s seamlessly flowing game. Additionally, with Isaiah Hartenstein simultaneously injured, Holmgren’s presence became all the more pivotal.

The Thunder feel the BIG loss of Chet Holmgren

The moment Holmgren went down, the Thunder sensed major peril. The 22-year-old stood as their last recognized center, with the former Knick yet to make his debut because of his own set of ailments. Hence, they decided to go small against a splashy Warriors side and it instantly hurt them. Due to the Warriors having shooting threats at all times, the need for a mobile center becomes paramount.

With Chet Holmgren not present to manage their defense, points came in bulk. Before the third quarter ended, the Bay had surpassed the 100-point threshold. That truly brought out the importance of Holmgren to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

From their set of lineups to have played at least 15 minutes, four of the six combinations boast a defensive rating under 105. Three of them feature Chet Holmgren. Moreover, with him on the floor, the Thunder also average their highest blocks. And then there was the loss in offense. Due to his ability to shoot, the young gun provides OKC with ample spacing while dragging rival centers out with him.

Naturally, without a guardian, the paint opens up for his slashing teammates. With the spacing, they can also utilize their shooting prowess. 3 of their top 5 shooting lineups contain the former No. 2 pick. Without him, the Thunder’s offense went dry, failing to score 80 points in three quarters. Currently, it seems as if they might concede defeat to the Warriors. However, if Chet Holmgren is out for long, do you think the Thunder can create a contingency plan? Let us know our views in the comments below.