Chet Holmgren Dishes On Defending Nikola Jokic

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets are facing off in Round 2 in the NBA Playoffs. The OKC Thunder are having to deal with the best player in the world Nikola Jokic, Chet Holmgren described what it is like to battle the Nuggets big man.

May 5, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) shoots against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) during the first quarter during game one of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Oklahoma City faces a must-win Game 2 in the second round against the Denver Nuggets.

After gift-wrapping the end of Game 1 to the Denver Nuggets, the Mile High Hoopers did their job in stealing away home-court advantage. A Game 2 win would just be icing on the cake and a likely death knell to the Thunder's chances to punch its ticket to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2016.

Part of the matchup nightmare is dealing with the best player in the world, Nikola Jokic (Despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP season).

The Paul Bunyan-like baller dominated the Thunder to the tune of 42 points, 22 rebounds, six assists, a steal and two blocks while shooting 51% from the floor. A jaw-dropping statline for any other NBA player is just another manic Monday for Jokic.

There is no stopping the Nuggets franchise icon; Oklahoma City can only hope to provide some resistance to the all-time great.

“Just understanding that a lot of what they do is predicated on him and goes through him. Just understanding that we’re gonna be guarding him for 110-120 possessions… Understanding how to have the right mix of physicality and intentionality," Thunder big man Chet Holmgren said at shoot around on Wednesday.

The Oklahoma City Thunder need to win Game 2, but it is still a tall task against this battle-tested Nuggets crew.

Oklahoma City will need to force Jokic to play in a crowd in the paint and hope for the best as he sprays the ball around the hardwood to shooters. Even that, is not a fool proof plan.