Chet Holmgren, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lead OKC Thunder past Nikola Jokic-less Nuggets
He looked exhausted. Reluctant, weary. Victim to Minnesota’s defensive prowess. Victim to his first NBA season, a 82-game trek in which he still hasn’t missed a game. Perhaps even victim to his own mind.
Chet Holmgren’s desire — no, need — to be great has, at times, leaked into his shot selection. It was apparent Monday. The pump fakes, attacking imaginary closeouts on an island. Desperately seeking the best shot possible, almost to a fault. That craving and its effects swelled as a historically hefty January schedule piled on.
None of that mattered when the ball found him late in the Thunder’s 105-100 Wednesday win over the Nuggets.
Up one with roughly 25 seconds to play, Holmgren squared toward the ball as it sped toward him. Weary of a cutting Aaron Wiggins, Holmgren’s nearest defender sunk further. The 7-foot-1 center was left all alone.
The moment was his. An island, a window, and as good of an opportunity as he’d seen all month. Any doubt, any hesitancy — gone.
“I was just open, so I was like, ‘We’re not gonna get a better shot than this,’” Holmgren said.
Holmgren’s decisiveness just made sense as Wednesday’s punctuation mark. He’d decided to bail the Thunder out eight minutes earlier when a moving, shot-clock beating Lu Dort heave threatened to plug OKC’s run. Holmgren swooped in from the empty corner to throw down an elastic putback dunk.
He decided to make the opposing rim a ring of fire. Hazardous to the touch, dangerous to even glance at. Along with his 18 points and 13 rebounds, Holmgren pitched in five blocks — with at least one more lost after being judged by the suit and ties holed up in the random NBA stat tracker room in the most isolated part of Antarctica.
Both Denver and OKC hovered near or below 40% from the field for much of the game. The Nuggets finished the game shooting better from deep (40.5%) than they did the field (39.8%). OKC was mediocre around the rim, mostly a product of good defensive possessions from Denver. The Nikola Jokic-less Nuggets were intolerable around the rim, shooting just 37.8% on paint attempts, mostly because of Holmgren.
Coach Mark Daigneault has noted Holmgren working through early imperfections. But he’s never noted the need to nudge Holmgren. Monday’s game hardly sparked any specific conversation.
“When you coach Chet Holmgren, you’re in constant conversation the entire time,” Daigneault said. “… I wouldn’t have it any other way. He wants to figure it out. He wants to solve the puzzle yesterday.”
In enduring this month, Holmgren recognized the things he’d hoped to fix as they passed. Decision making, the natural tug-of-war that comes with passing on or shooting shots.
He cited a lack of time between road trips and back-to-backs as things that have kept him from focusing on ironing those wrinkles. Film was as far as he could reach.
But on Tuesday, he got that chance. On Wednesday, he played free.
“It’s human nature, as a perfectionist, you always want to make the play,” Holmgren said. “Sometimes you're so focused on trying to make every single shot that you start thinking too much about the one single shot. Guys take thousands of shots every season. Nobody makes all of them. I’ve just gotta understand that.”
Hello, Vasilije
Vasilije Micic hasn’t exactly been the center of attention. He’s eased into his role as a second unit playmaker, taking on his largest load in January. So, after a career-game for the 30-year-old rookie, Micic needed to break the ice before his rare postgame appearance.
“First of all, hello everyone,” he said.
Then he talked. About the team, about Wednesday’s effort, about his fit so far. When it mattered, Micic was at the center of everything in the win.
Down Jalen Williams, who has shouldered second units with his increased on-ball creation and facilitating, Micic was up. Brock Purdy would be a fan. Micic was the ultimate game managing floor general.
“My enthusiasm is like a young player,” Micic said. “That's what I try to bring everyday."
He turned corners with verve he hadn’t shown off all year. He got to the rim with finesse. He broke zones, he ran actions that left Denver’s defense puzzled and turned every which way.
Micic finished with 12 points and five assists as a team-high plus-14. Running the offense smoothly without the team’s second scoring option and an infinitely creative creator was a task itself. But managing the group that started the fourth quarter? That was an entirely different beast.
“Every single day, as a professional, you have to be ready,” he said. “You gotta work on small details. Physically, mentally. So, once you get the opportunity, you do what’s best for the team.”
Effort on a day least expected
Daigneault entered Wednesday without expectations. Despite being down two of his top seven rotational players, despite a week in which he suffered tough losses to Detroit and Minnesota, despite Denver conveniently capping off one of the most grueling single-month schedules in recent memory.
The 38-year-old coach said that, after all the team has done this season, he gives it the benefit of the doubt in terms of effort. He entered the game with the same train of thought as when he saw Hamilton this past summer.
“I wasn’t worried that it was bad,” Daigneault said, “but I was impressed that it was good.”
Somehow, on a night that was meant to invite everything but effort, the Thunder delivered. With Holmgren’s putbacks and relentless rim protection. With rookie Cason Wallace’s passes out of traps and loose ball navigation. Even after a rough 2-for-11 shooting night, Josh Giddey rebounded his own miss — the play that became Holmgren’s dagger.
OKC’s 15 offensive rebounds were tied for the second-most in any game this season. Guards blocked shots, the defense tightened late.
That’s all Daigneault and the Thunder could ask for.
Take it from the team’s old man.
“Having that energy is the least we can offer as a mainly young team,” Micic said.
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Thunder vs. Nuggets live score updates
More: OKC Thunder: Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace tabbed NBA All-Star Rising Stars
Thunder vs. Nuggets highlights
Final: Thunder 105, Nuggets 100
Behind late shotmaking, some notable game managing and some rim protection, no-Dub OKC downs the no-Jok Nuggets. Finishes the season series 3-1.
Chet: 18-13-3-5
SGA: 34-7-5
—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
End of 3Q: Thunder 73, Nuggets 72
Shotmaking starting to pick up for OKC. Shot 3 for 6 on 3s in the third, all in succession there — a Cason bailout, a SGA step back and a Chet rhythm 3. Denver shot 34.6%(!) from the field and 3 for 14 from 3 there. Rim stuff has been bad.
—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
Half: Nuggets 51, Thunder 47
Both teams shooting under 40%. Mix of stretches of nasty offense and impressive defense. Nuggets were great defending the rim in 1st. Chet Holmgren has maybe been better. He's got four blocks. Helped hold DEN to 28% in the 2nd despite open 3s.
—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
End of 1Q: Nuggets 28, Thunder 19
OKC shoots 28% and 1 for 6 from 3. Just a horrid offensive quarter from jump. Also just some really good defense from Denver (5 blks). Nugs 6 for 13 from 3. Only shooting worse inside because Chet exists. Prob a nasty lineup incoming in 2Q.
—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
Pregame: Mark Daigneault comments on Jalen Williams, Isaiah Joe
Mark Daigneault, talking about Jalen Williams and Isaiah Joe, says “I’d be surprised if they play the next couple of games.”
Injury report: Jalen Williams, Isaiah Joe out for Thunder; Nikola Jokic out for Nuggets
The 1:30 p.m. NBA injury report for the Thunder ahead of hosting Denver on Wednesday:
Lu Dort (left ankle soreness) is available
SGA (illness) is available
Chet Holmgren (left ankle sprain) is available
Isaiah Joe (sternum contusion) is OUT
Jalen Williams (right ankle sprain) is OUT
Nuggets star Nikola Jokic is listed as being OUT with low back pain.
More: OKC Thunder mailbag: How will Sam Presti handle picks in 2024 NBA Draft?
Thunder vs. Nuggets start time today
Matchup: Thunder (32-15) vs. Nuggets (33-15)
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 31
Time: 7 p.m. CT
Where: Paycom Center in Oklahoma City
Betting line: Thunder by 2
Box score: Click HERE
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Thunder vs. Nuggets TV channel today
TV: Bally Sports Oklahoma
Radio: 98.1 FM, 640 AM
Streaming: Fubo (free trial).
If you don't have Bally Sports Oklahoma, you can sign up for Fubo with a free trial to watch the Thunder all season long.
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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Chet Holmgren, OKC Thunder rally past Nikola Jokic-less Denver Nuggets
