OKC Thunder: Chet Holmgren Could be in Store for Superb Outing Versus Indiana

The Thunder rookie could take advantage of a porous Pacers defense on Friday night.

Mar 12, 2024; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) drives / Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

Last time Indiana and Oklahoma City met, it was a 10-point win for the Pacers on the Thunder's home floor.

The Thunder's 7-foot-1 rookie Chet Holmgren had a fairly strong outing despite the Pacers' 72 points in the paint and Myles Turner's 24 points and a couple rejections on Holmgren's tries on the interior.

Holmgren shot just 6-of-16 from the floor, but logged 15 points, 13 boards and a pair of blocks. It wasn't enough to help Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 30 points on 27 shots and claim a victory, but Mark Daigneault and the Thunder know how to game plan for the next time around.

That next time comes on Friday night, where Oklahoma City will compete without Gilgeous-Alexander for the fifth time in six games. Jalen Williams is still listed as questionable versus the Pacers, so Holmgren's responsibility on both ends of the floor vastly heighten between the absence of these two players.

This is a game where Holmgren could post a dominant performance, realizing the weight he'll shoulder without his two stars along with a couple other viable reasons.

Turner is currently listed as a game-time decision for Indiana after missing a contest due to a dislocated finger, giving Holmgren an advantage on both sides of the ball.

On top of that, it's known that the sixth-seeded Pacers have one of the most sluggish defenses in terms of playoff competition, especially where Holmgren excels at. Indiana is tied for giving up the most points in the paint per game on the season with 58.5, paired with some of the worst defensive rebounding numbers in the NBA. And naturally, they're in the bottom five of most second chance points allowed in the association.

Oklahoma City doesn't win too many rebound battles, but did so against Indiana in their first meeting.

Holmgren's odds for a standout game have been shoved to the forefront of the Thunder's operation, especially if both Williams and Turner are sidelined. He'll be getting the call, and the rookie could be ready for it.

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