<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-isaiah-hartenstein-reveals-chet-holmgren-biggest-area-growth');   ga('set', 'title', 'Thunder’s Isaiah Hartenstein reveals Chet Holmgren’s biggest area of growth');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Thunder-forward-Chet-Holmgren-Isaiah-Hartenstein-1.jpg"><figcaption>DOUG HOKE/THEOKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Thunder’s Isaiah Hartenstein reveals Chet Holmgren’s biggest area of growth</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-28T14:53:13-07:00">October 28th, 2:53pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-28T14:53:13-07:00">October 28th, 2:53pm</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Four games into the 2025-26 regular season, Isaiah Hartenstein knows that Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren’s production is a big reason the defending champion’s undefeated thus far. Ahead of <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-chet-holmgren-alex-caruso-injury-updates-before-kings-clash">Holmgren’s first night off due to back soreness</a> amid the campaign’s first back-to-back, Hartenstein identified the specific growth he’s seen in Chet.</p><p>Hartenstein revealed he got a close-up look at Holmgren’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WjWytvGkO8" rel="noopener">gains during the offseason</a>, as we’re all seeing the fruits of Chet’s labor amid his first four regular-season games.</p><p>“His confidence, but also just playing through contact. I think that’s where he’s been a lot better in,” Hartenstein said. “I’ve been with him all summer, seen the work he put in with Drew Hanlen, and you’re kind of just seeing it right now. You’re seeing this confidence. You’re seeing what he’s been doing for our team, and he’s also just healthy, too. I think those two big keys — his confidence and him being healthy — he’s one of the best bigs in the league.”</p><p>Holmgren’s been stellar out of the gates, averaging 23.0 points on 56.9% shooting, including 41.7% from deep, 10.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks. Chet’s on pace for a standout campaign. Perhaps his breakout year, as all of the signs from his championship run throughout the playoffs last year to his extraordinary start to the regular season amid All-Star Jalen Williams’ recovery.</p><p>Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder will go for a perfect 5-0 mark in Holmgren’s absence when they host the Sacramento Kings at the Paycom Center on Tuesday.</p><h2><b>Chet Holmgren ruled out for Thunder game vs. Kings</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Thunder-forward-Chet-Holmgren_878ad8.jpg"><figcaption>Jerome Miron-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>After Thunder forward <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunders-chet-holmgren-reveals-dislocated-thumb-vs-hawks">Chet Holmgren dislocated his thumb against the Hawks</a>, he entered Monday’s game listed as questionable on the injury report ahead of facing the Mavericks. Holmgren was cleared to play hours before tip-off, which led most to believe he’d probably take the night off on the second night of a back-to-back. Holmgren also made Mavs rookie Cooper Flagg’s welcome to the NBA moment when he dunked on him in the second half.</p><p>In a 101-94 win against the Mavericks, he stuffed the stat sheet with 18 points, 11 rebounds, four blocks, and two assists. He also drained a pair of threes, as Holmgren is now 10-of-24 (42.1%) from behind the three-point arc.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Thunder’s Isaiah Hartenstein reveals Chet Holmgren’s biggest area of growth

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-chet-holmgren-alex-caruso-injury-updates-before-kings-clash');   ga('set', 'title', 'Thunder’s Chet Holmgren, Alex Caruso get mixed bag of injury updates before Kings clash');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Chet-Holmgren-7-looks-to-move-the-ball-past-Dallas-Mavericks-forward-Naji-Marshall-13.jpg"><figcaption>© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Thunder’s Chet Holmgren, Alex Caruso get mixed bag of injury updates before Kings clash</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-28T13:48:02-07:00">October 28th, 1:48pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-28T13:48:02-07:00">October 28th, 1:48pm</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Oklahoma City Thunder will be short one key starter but regain another as they return home for a three-game stretch beginning <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-mark-daigneault-keeps-100-cooper-flagg-2-point-performance">Tuesday night against the Sacramento Kings</a>.</p><p>The team announced that center Chet Holmgren <a href="https://x.com/BrettSiegelNBA/status/1983241036097798504" rel="noopener">has been ruled out</a> with low back soreness, while guard Alex Caruso has cleared concussion protocol and is available to play. The reigning NBA champions (4-0) are set to tip off against the Kings (1-2) at Paycom Center.</p><p>Holmgren last appeared in Monday night’s 101-94 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, where he posted another strong performance in his third NBA season. The 23-year-old finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds, four blocks, and two assists while shooting 6-for-10 from the field and 4-for-6 from the free throw line across 32 minutes. He also recorded a team-high plus/minus of +15, continuing his consistent two-way production to start the season.</p><h2><b>Chet Holmgren sidelined, Alex Caruso returns as Thunder face Kings amid early-season injuries</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Alex-Caruso-9-and-forward-Chet-Holmgren-7-react-after-defeating-the-Indiana-Pacers.jpg"><figcaption>© Kyle Terada-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Through four games, Holmgren is averaging 23 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 56.9% from the field and 41.7% from beyond the arc in 34.3 minutes per contest. His efficiency and rim protection have been central to Oklahoma City’s undefeated start, but the team will now have to manage his workload carefully as they navigate a busy early schedule.</p><p>Caruso, meanwhile, returns after <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-alex-caruso-sustains-concussion-nba-protocol">missing three straight games while in concussion protocol</a>. The 31-year-old veteran last played in Oklahoma City’s season opener — a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-sga-russell-westbrook-okc-record">125-124 double-overtime win over the Houston Rockets</a>. In that contest, he tallied eight points, three assists, two rebounds, two steals, and one block while shooting 3-for-9 from the field and 2-for-6 from three across 30 minutes.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-is-chet-holmgren-playing-vs-hawks-latest-injury-update">Thunder will still be without several key rotation players</a>. Isaiah Joe remains out with a left knee contusion, while Thomas Sorber (right ACL recovery), Nikola Topic (post-surgical recovery), Kenrich Williams (left knee surgery), and Jalen Williams (right wrist surgery) continue their rehabilitations. Head coach Mark Daigneault has relied on Oklahoma City’s depth and defensive consistency to maintain momentum through the early portion of the season.</p><p>The Thunder will host the Kings at 8:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday night at Paycom Center.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Thunder’s Chet Holmgren, Alex Caruso get mixed bag of injury updates before Kings clash

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-chet-holmgren-posterizes-cooper-flagg-for-savage-welcome-to-nba-moment');   ga('set', 'title', 'Thunder’s Chet Holmgren posterizes Cooper Flagg for savage ‘Welcome to NBA’ moment');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Thunder-center-Chet-Holmgren-7-drives-to-the-basket.jpg"><figcaption>© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Thunder’s Chet Holmgren posterizes Cooper Flagg for savage ‘Welcome to NBA’ moment</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-27T19:54:43-07:00">October 27th, 7:54pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-27T19:54:43-07:00">October 27th, 7:54pm</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>No one is doubting the idea of Cooper Flagg being one of the best players in the NBA someday. But as a rookie for a Dallas Mavericks team in transition, he is bound to have plenty of growing pains. On Monday night, he was given a major welcome to the NBA moment by <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/san-antonio-spurs/spurs-news-the-chet-holmgren-reason-that-victor-wembanyama-motivated-this-year">Oklahoma City Thunder big man Chet Holmgren</a>, who had no intention of taking it easy on one of the most hyped-up rookies of all-time.</p><p>Early on in the third quarter, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was handling the ball, drawing two defenders in the process. Just as he felt PJ Washington leaning closer to him than his original man, Holmgren, the Thunder star threw the ball to Holmgren, who decided not to settle for a jumper, taking the ball straight to the hoop.</p><p>And with only Flagg providing resistance between Holmgren and the hoop, there was always going to be <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1982989211210027439" rel="noopener">one winner</a> — with the Thunder star putting the Mavericks rookie on a poster with a mean one-handed slam.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">CHET HOLMGREN PUTS COOPER FLAGG ON A POSTER 😱</p><p> <a href="https://t.co/LvjJT6gQg4">pic.twitter.com/LvjJT6gQg4</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1982989211210027439?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/indiana-pacers/pacers-news-myles-turner-embarrasses-chet-holmgren-with-crucial-game-3-block">Holmgren has had his fair share of growing pains</a> as well through the years, and as one of the best shot-blockers in the NBA, he’s experienced plenty of similar plays as Flagg through the years. But now that he’s maturing with age and with championship experience, the Thunder big man appears to be figuring something out on offense.</p><p>The second overall pick of the 2022 NBA Draft is coming off a game against the Atlanta Hawks in which he scored 31 points, hauled in 11 boards, and recorded three steals and a block. With Jalen Williams out, there is plenty of room for shots down the OKC pecking order. And it looks like Holmgren is making the most of his opportunity as the team’s undisputed second option on the offensive end.</p><h2><b>Thunder look to extend undefeated start to title defense</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_0250.jpeg"><figcaption>Dale Zanine-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-okc-opens-title-defense-with-ot-feat-not-seen-in-nba-history">Thunder were pushed to the brink</a> in their first two games of the season, with the Houston Rockets and Indiana Pacers pushing them to double overtime. OKC prevailed, with Gilgeous-Alexander flexing his dominance and looking like the MVP of the league in the process.</p><p>After taking care of business rather handily against the Atlanta Hawks, the Thunder find themselves in another close game, with the Mavericks putting the pressure on the reigning champion. At the time of writing, OKC is holding on to a slim three-point lead with around 22 seconds remaining in the contest.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Thunder’s Chet Holmgren posterizes Cooper Flagg for savage ‘Welcome to NBA’ moment

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/san-antonio-spurs/spurs-news-the-chet-holmgren-reason-that-victor-wembanyama-motivated-this-year');   ga('set', 'title', 'The Chet Holmgren reason that Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama is so motivated this year');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Spurs-All-Star-Victor-Wembanyama-Thunder-s-Chet-Holmgren.jpg"><figcaption>Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>The Chet Holmgren reason that Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama is so motivated this year</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-27T14:21:30-07:00">October 27th, 2:21pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-27T14:21:30-07:00">October 27th, 2:21pm</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>San Antonio Spurs All-Star Victor Wembanyama watched Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren — the 2022 second overall pick of his same draft class — win his first championship last season. Fast forward through the first week of the 2025-26 campaign, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/san-antonio-spurs/spurs-news-victor-wembanyama-opening-week-nba-honor">Wembanyama is the Western Conference Player of the Week</a>. With a chip on his shoulder, and a 3-0 start to the season, Victor is poisitioned to have a signature year.</p><p>It’s the beginning of an impressive regular season, which ESPN’s Marc Spears reports is a byproduct of <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25266206-wemby-reportedly-motivated-chet-holmgren-winning-nba-title-thunder" rel="noopener">added motivation</a>, following Holmgren and the Thunder’s championship run last season, Spears said, per Bleacher Report.</p><p>“I was told by somebody inside that room that Wemby is motivated by Chet. Chet having one up on him on the championship,” Spears said.</p><p>After a blood clot ended his season last year, Wembanyama’s been focused on leading the Spurs to the upper echelon of a competitive Western Conference in 2025-26. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/san-antonio-spurs/spurs-victor-wembanyama-explains-huge-leap-rookie-year">Wembanyama feels his game has reached new heights</a> since his rookie season. It’s what he think has led to <a href="https://twitter.com/HectorLedesmaTV/status/1981238699439640700" rel="noopener">such an impressive start</a>, he said, per Spurs reporter Hector Ledesma.</p><p>“I feel like it’s a mix of knowledge of the game, of recognition, of patterns on the court, and, obviously, physical development,” Wembanyama said. “If I could have been, if I was able to do that when I was 19 years old or 16 years old, whenever, I would have done it. I mean, I would have tried to do it,” the Spurs’ leading scorer for each of the last two seasons continued.</p><p>“But there’s some things that just take time, and I’m able to do it now. The proof is there, so there’s no reason to not do it.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Off the heels of a performance that's got the sports world in awe, Wemby explains his continued ascension…</p><p>"The mix of knowledge, the game, recognition..<br>If I was able to do that when I was 19 years old…I would've done it…I'm able to do it now, proof is there…" ⬇️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Spurs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Spurs</a> <a href="https://t.co/tDDYSegYj2">pic.twitter.com/tDDYSegYj2</a></p><p>— Hector Ledesma (@HectorLedesmaTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/HectorLedesmaTV/status/1981238699439640700?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Three games into the regular season season, Chet Holmgren is averaging 33.3 points, 11.7 rebounds, and a league-leading 6.0 blocks.</p><h2><b>Victor Wembanyama addresses his Spurs teammates</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Spurs-All-Star-Victor-Wembanyama-Thunder-s-Chet-Holmgren-2.jpg"><figcaption>Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Spurs All-Star Victor Wembanyama embraces the pressure that comes with being the No.1 overall pick, especially when you’re pegged to be the NBA’s next generational talent. For Wembanyama, it’s his responsibility to play at a high level for his team.</p><p>“I felt like I needed to make a statement to my teammates,” Wembanyama said. “It’s also just the beginning because there’s so much more I want to add to my game, but some things take time and maturity.”</p><p>The Spurs will look to go 4-0 when they face the Raptors on Monday.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

The Chet Holmgren reason that Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama is so motivated this year

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-chet-holmgren-upgraded-monday-game-mavericks');   ga('set', 'title', 'Thunder’s Chet Holmgren upgraded for Monday’s game vs Mavericks');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Thunder-forward-Chet-Holmgren-i-1.jpg"><figcaption>Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Thunder’s Chet Holmgren upgraded for Monday’s game vs Mavericks</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-27T13:37:05-07:00">October 27th, 1:37pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-27T13:37:05-07:00">October 27th, 1:37pm</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Dallas Mavericks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After Oklahoma City Thunder forward <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-chet-holmgren-questionable-monday-game-mavericks">Chet Holmgren was listed as questionable for Monday’s game</a> against the Dallas Mavericks, he was upgraded to available. The starting big man will be in action for the Thunder’s final stop on their three-game road trip before returning home to the Paycom Center for the first time since Opening Night.</p><p>Holmgren, dealing with lingering <a href="https://ak-static.cms.nba.com/referee/injury/Injury-Report_2025-10-27_03PM.pdf" rel="noopener">lower back soreness</a>, has been cleared to play, as the Thunder announced on Monday afternoon. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunders-chet-holmgren-reveals-dislocated-thumb-vs-hawks">Holmgren suffered a dislocated thumb against the Hawks</a>. He exited the game during the second quarter but returned for the second half. Chet finished with 31 points on 8-of-12 attempts, including six threes, which ties his career-high. He also finished with 11 rebounds, three steals, and one block.</p><p>The shorthanded Thunder, playing without All-Star Jalen Williams, Isaiah Joe, Alex Caruso, Kenrich Williams, and others, will look to go a perfect 4-0 as defending champions when they take on Anthony Davis, the No. 1 overall pick, Cooper Flagg, and the Mavericks on Monday.</p><h2><b>Chet Holmgren reveals dislocated thumb after Thunder win</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Thunder-forward-Chet-Holmgren-ii-1.jpg"><figcaption>Dale Zanine-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Thunder forward Chet Holmgren tried to contest a dunk from Hawks forward Mouhamed Gueye and dislocated his thumb in the process in Saturday’s 17-point win. Holmgren jammed his thumb against the backboard while Gueye flushed the ball through the hoop. The Thunder big man headed toward the locker room but returned to the floor after halftime.</p><p>After the game, Holmgren revealed he <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKq325eJoEA&amp;t=263s" rel="noopener">had dislocated his thumb</a> during his postgame media availability.</p><p>“We all know what happened — I got dunked on, dislocated my thumb at the same time,” Holmgren revealed. “It didn’t look too bad. Obviously, my thumb wasn’t where it was supposed to be. I see my thumb every day. It didn’t look like it normally does. But, it also didn’t look completely done for. So, I tried to tell them to just pop it back into place during the timeout because I was scared. I didn’t know what to do. But they said I had to go get X-rays — that’s why I went to the back.”</p><p>Holmgren is averaging 24.7 points on 56.1% shooting, including 42.1% from deep, 10.0 rebounds, and 1.7 steals through three games.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Thunder’s Chet Holmgren upgraded for Monday’s game vs Mavericks

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-chet-holmgren-questionable-monday-game-mavericks');   ga('set', 'title', 'Thunder’s Chet Holmgren questionable for Monday’s game vs. Mavericks');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Thunder-forward-Chet-Holmgren-i.jpg"><figcaption>Dale Zanine-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Thunder’s Chet Holmgren questionable for Monday’s game vs. Mavericks</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-27T12:59:47-07:00">October 27th, 12:59pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-27T12:59:47-07:00">October 27th, 12:59pm</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Dallas Mavericks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After Oklahoma City Thunder forward <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunders-chet-holmgren-reveals-dislocated-thumb-vs-hawks">Chet Holmgren recovered from a dislocated thumb</a> in a 117-100 win against the Atlanta Hawks, he’s listed as questionable for Monday’s matchup against the Dallas Mavericks. Holmgren, who’s been dealing with lower back soreness throughout the beginning of the regular season, returned in the second half of Saturday’s win against the Hawks.</p><p>However, he didn’t sit during his postgame media availability, leading some to believe Holmgren’s back injury is truly bothering him, as he’s still <a href="https://ak-static.cms.nba.com/referee/injury/Injury-Report_2025-10-27_02PM.pdf" rel="noopener">listed as questionable</a> for the Thunder’s game against the Mavericks with back soreness, and not for the dislocated thumb.</p><p>Holmgren stuffed the stat sheet with 31 points on 8-of-12 attempts, including 6-of-8 from deep, 9-for-10 from the free-throw line, 11 rebounds, three steals, and one block against the Hawks. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-chet-holmgren-ties-career-high-amid-impressive-shooting-hawks">Holmgren tied his career-high in threes</a> as his impressive start to the 2025-26 campaign continues amid the Thunder’s perfect 3-0 start.</p><p>Holmgren is averaging 24.7 points on 56.1% shooting, including 42.1% from deep, 10.0 rebounds, and 1.7 steals through three games.</p><h2><b>Chet Holmgren ties career-high amid Thunder’s 3-0 start</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Thunder-forward-Chet-Holmgren-ii.jpg"><figcaption>Dale Zanine-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Thunder forward Chet Holmgren tied his career-high with six threes in a 17-point victory against the Hawks on Saturday, as the defending champions remain undefeated to start the regular season. After Saturday’s win, Holmgren addressed his impressive shooting display, which got him off to a quick start, finding his offensive rhythm early en route to a 31-point performance.</p><p>After the win, Holmgren explained what led to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKq325eJoEA&amp;t=263s" rel="noopener">his efficient shooting</a> from behind the arc.</p><p>“When you see the ball go in a couple of times, you definitely play a lot more loose, and you’re definitely looking for the next opportunity to shoot,” Holmgren said. “But I’m not a big believer in heat checks in terms of taking a bad shot because you hit a couple. I’m still seeking out the right play, looking for good shots, and throughout the game, I felt like I did a good job of trusting that, and after the first couple went in, I was able to find some more.”</p><p>Three games into the regular season, Holmgren is 8-for-19 (42.1%) from deep, while averaging a double-double for the shorthanded Thunder, starting the regular season without All-Star Jalen Williams, Isaiah Joe, and others.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Thunder’s Chet Holmgren questionable for Monday’s game vs. Mavericks

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunders-chet-holmgren-reveals-dislocated-thumb-vs-hawks');   ga('set', 'title', 'Thunder’s Chet Holmgren reveals dislocated thumb vs Hawks');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Thunder-forward-Chet-Holmgren-1-1.jpg"><figcaption>Dale Zanine-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Thunder’s Chet Holmgren reveals dislocated thumb vs Hawks</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-26T18:27:20-07:00">October 26th, 6:27pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-26T18:27:20-07:00">October 26th, 6:27pm</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After Oklahoma City <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-chet-holmgren-ties-career-high-amid-impressive-shooting-hawks">Thunder forward Chet Holmgren tied a career-high</a> six threes in a 117-100 win against the Atlanta Hawks, he revealed he dislocated his thumb. When Holmgren went up to contest Mouhamed Gueye’s dunk in the second quarter, he hurt his hand on the play, and headed toward the locker room before returning in the second half.</p><p>After the win, Holmgren revealed he <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKq325eJoEA&amp;t=263s" rel="noopener">suffered a dislocated thumb</a> during his postgame media availability.</p><p>“We all know what happened — I got dunked on, dislocated my thumb at the same time,” Holmgren revealed. “It didn’t look too bad. Obviously, my thumb wasn’t where it was supposed to be. I see my thumb every day. It didn’t look like it normally does. But, it also didn’t look completely done for. So, I tried to tell them to just pop it back into place during the timeout because I was scared. I didn’t know what to do. But they said I had to go get X-rays — that’s why I went to the back.”</p><p>Holmgren finished with 31 points on 8-of-12 attempts, including 6-for-8 from deep, 9-for-10 from the free-throw line, and three steals against the Hawks. Chet is listed as questionable for the Thunder’s game against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday.</p><h2><b>Chet Holmgren ties career-high six threes vs. Hawks</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Thunder-forward-Chet-Holmgren-2_3752eb.jpg"><figcaption>Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Thunder’s Chet Holmgren is off to an impressive start to the season, making his presence felt on both ends of the floor, which led to ESPN’s <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-chet-holmgren-big-game-kendrick-perkins-dropping-viral-quotes-espn">Kendrick Perkins calling Holmgren elite among NBA bigs</a>. Holmgren continues to grow as a dynamic center who can score in the paint and from the perimeter, as his six threes against the Hawks helped the Thunder to a 3-0 start as defending champions.</p><p>“When you see the ball go in a couple of times, you definitely play a lot more loose, and you’re definitely looking for the next opportunity to shoot,” Holmgren said. “But I’m not a big believer in heat checks in terms of taking a bad shot because you hit a couple. I’m still seeking out the right play, looking for good shots, and throughout the game, I felt like I did a good job of trusting that, and after the first couple went in, I was able to find some more.”</p><p>Holmgren is averaging 24.7 points on 56.1% shooting, including 42.1% from deep, 10.0 rebounds, and 1.7 steals through three games.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Thunder’s Chet Holmgren reveals dislocated thumb vs Hawks

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-chet-holmgren-ties-career-high-amid-impressive-shooting-hawks');   ga('set', 'title', 'Thunder’s Chet Holmgren ties career-high amid impressive shooting vs. Hawks');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Thunder-forward-Chet-Holmgren_5d30e5.jpg"><figcaption>Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Thunder’s Chet Holmgren ties career-high amid impressive shooting vs. Hawks</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-26T17:13:56-07:00">October 26th, 5:13pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-26T17:13:56-07:00">October 26th, 5:13pm</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-shai-gilgeous-alexander-free-throw-merchant-label-hawks">Shai Gilgeous-Alexander turned in 30+ points</a> for the third consecutive game of the young 2025-26 NBA season, while Chet Holmgren tied his career high in threes in a 117-100 win against the Atlanta Hawks. The Thunder improved to 3-0.</p><p>Holmgren finished with 31 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including six threes, which ties his career-high for most threes in a game. He also went 9-for-10 from the free-throw line and added 11 rebounds, three steals, and one block. Holmgren <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKq325eJoEA&amp;t=263s" rel="noopener">addressed his impressive shooting</a> display against the Hawks in his postgame media availability.</p><p>“When you see the ball go in a couple of times, you definitely play a lot more loose, and you’re definitely looking for the next opportunity to shoot,” Holmgren said. “But I’m not a big believer in heat checks in terms of taking a bad shot because you hit a couple. I’m still seeking out the right play, looking for good shots, and throughout the game, I felt like I did a good job of trusting that, and after the first couple went in, I was able to find some more.”</p><p>Chet Holmgren is off to an impressive start to the season, making his presence felt on both ends of the floor, including his six threes against the Hawks amid the Thunder’s perfect 3-0 start as defending champions. Holmgren is averaging 24.7 points on 56.1% shooting, including 42.1% from deep, 10.0 rebounds, and 1.7 steals through three games.</p><p>This is the kind of production many anticipated from Holmgren heading into the regular season, leading some to predict that the 2022 second overall pick is on pace to earn his first All-Star selection after playing in only 32 regular-season games in 2024-25.</p><h2><b>ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins on Thunder’s Chet Holmgren start</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Thunder-forward-Chet-Holmgren-2.jpg"><figcaption>Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The performance in Thunder’s home opener from <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-chet-holmgren-big-game-kendrick-perkins-dropping-viral-quotes-espn">Chet Holmgren impressed ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins a lot</a>. So much so that the 2008 NBA champion says Holmgren <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNNBA/status/1981077621006893177" rel="noopener">belongs in the same tier</a> as Bucks All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nuggets All-Star Nikola Jokic, and Rockets All-Star Alperen Sengun, Perkins said, per ESPN’s NBA Today.</p><p>“Sengun, Giannis, Jokic, and rightfully so, but then all of a sudden, Chet Holmgren is the forgotten. And then, he reminded us last night in that first half how he went to work,” Perkins said. “He was deep in his bag like he had waffle fries at the bottom. Inside/out. And when you talk about how unique he is as far as his skillset, that’s why they’re able to mix it up.”</p><p>Holmgren and the Thunder will conclude their three-game road trip against the Mavericks on Monday.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Thunder’s Chet Holmgren ties career-high amid impressive shooting vs. Hawks

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-is-chet-holmgren-playing-vs-hawks-latest-injury-update');   ga('set', 'title', 'Thunder’s Chet Holmgren available to play vs. Hawks');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Thunder-center-Chet-Holmgren-7-shoots-the-ball-while-Indiana-Pacers-forward-Jarace-Walker-5.jpg"><figcaption>© Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Thunder’s Chet Holmgren available to play vs. Hawks</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-25T12:30:32-07:00">October 25th, 12:30pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-25T12:40:23-07:00">October 25th, 12:40pm</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Oklahoma City Thunder may be without one of their key starters as they continue their three-game road trip on Saturday night against the Atlanta Hawks.</p><p>The team announced Saturday morning that center Chet Holmgren is <a href="https://official.nba.com/nba-injury-report-2025-26-season/" rel="noopener">listed as questionable</a> with low back soreness ahead of the matchup at State Farm Arena. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-shai-gilgeous-alexander-new-nba-ft-record">Thunder (2-0) are coming off a 141-135 double-overtime win over the Indiana Pacers</a> in a rematch of last season’s NBA Finals.</p><p>UPDATE: According to Brandon Rahbar of Daily Thunder, Holmgren, as well as Cason Wallace, <a href="https://x.com/BrandonRahbar/status/1982153751004635244" rel="noopener">are both available to play</a> against the Hawks.</p><p>Holmgren, entering his third NBA season, has been instrumental in Oklahoma City’s strong start to the 2025-26 campaign. In the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-shai-gilgeous-alexander-new-nba-ft-record">Thunder’s season-opening victory over the Houston Rockets</a>, he posted 28 points, seven rebounds, and two assists while shooting 11-for-17 from the field and 2-for-5 from three-point range before fouling out after 39 minutes.</p><p>In Thursday’s win against the Pacers, Holmgren contributed 15 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, and two blocks while shooting 4-for-12 from the field and 0-for-6 from three across 39 minutes. Though his outside shot wasn’t falling, his rebounding and rim protection helped the defending champions overcome a depleted roster to secure another double-overtime victory.</p><h2><b>Thunder list Chet Holmgren as questionable vs. Hawks amid crowded injury report</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Thunder-guard-Luguentz-Dort-5-and-center-Chet-Holmgren-7-in-the-second-half.jpg"><figcaption>© Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Oklahoma City continues to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-okc-nba-finals-rematch-vs-pacers-marred-by-injuries">manage a crowded injury report</a> early in the season. Guard Alex Caruso remains out while in concussion protocol, and third-year guard Cason Wallace is questionable for a second straight game with a left knee sprain after missing Thursday’s contest in Indianapolis.</p><p>The Thunder are also without Jalen Williams, Kenrich Williams, Thomas Sorber, and Nikola Topic — all sidelined as they recover from offseason surgeries. Head coach Mark Daigneault has leaned on depth and lineup flexibility to keep the team steady through the early stretch of the schedule.</p><p>Despite the absences, 2025 NBA Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has continued to lead Oklahoma City, averaging elite production through the first two games while maintaining the team’s defensive identity. The Thunder enter Saturday’s matchup with one of the league’s highest-scoring offenses, averaging 133 points per game through their first two contests.</p><p>The Hawks (1-1) return home after splitting their first two games of the season, defeating the Orlando Magic 111-107 on Friday following a 138-118 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday. Led by Trae Young and Jalen Johnson, Atlanta will look to build on its first win and hand the defending champions their first loss of the season.</p><p>The Thunder will visit the Hawks at State Farm Arena on Saturday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET, with national coverage on NBA TV.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Thunder’s Chet Holmgren available to play vs. Hawks

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/indiana-pacers/pacers-news-pascal-siakam-chet-holmgren-finals-rematch-ot');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pascal Siakam cooks Chet Holmgren to send NBA Finals rematch to OT');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_0243.jpeg"><figcaption>Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Pascal Siakam cooks Chet Holmgren to send NBA Finals rematch to OT</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-23T19:31:07-07:00">October 23rd, 7:31pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-23T19:45:11-07:00">October 23rd, 7:45pm</time><address><a>David Yapkowitz</a>David Yapkowitz is an NBA Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a credentialed reporter based in Los Angeles who covers the NBA/WNBA, NCAA/NCAAW and boys/girls high school basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Indiana Pacers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Opening week of the 2025-26 season continued on Thursday with an NBA Finals rematch between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-okc-nba-finals-rematch-vs-pacers-marred-by-injuries">several key players on both teams sidelined due to injury</a>, the game did live up to the hype. The Pacers managed to send the game into overtime as All-Star big man Pascal Siakam <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1981546405022904431" rel="noopener">hit a clutch jumper</a> over Thunder big man Chet Holmgren with just about six seconds remaining. The Thunder were unable to score on the following possession as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s shot came up short, ensuring an extra five minutes.</p><p>In the overtime period, it was another Pacer in Bennedict Mathurin who got to the basket to send to it to another overtime period. Pascal Siakam’s clutch fourth quarter jumper for the Pacers to initially send the game to overtime ended up being even more massive in retrospect.</p><p>The Pacers came into the game down both of their point guards in Tyrese Halliburton and TJ McConnell due to injury. During the game, Andrew Nembhard was ultimately ruled out due to a shoulder injury. Nembhard was expected to step in as the starting point guard in Haliburton’s absence.</p><p>But even with no available point guards, the Pacers still went toe-to-toe with the defending champs. But the Thunder were without key players as well. All-Star forward <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-jalen-williams-left-active-roster-injury-timetable-unclear">Jalen Williams is dealing with a wrist injury </a>and has yet to make his season debut after offseason surgery. The Thunder were also without Cason Wallace who is dealing with a knee injury. Wallace played in the team’s opening night win against the Houston Rockets.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Pascal Siakam cooks Chet Holmgren to send NBA Finals rematch to OT

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-chet-holmgren-big-game-kendrick-perkins-dropping-viral-quotes-espn');   ga('set', 'title', 'Chet Holmgren’s big Thunder game has Kendrick Perkins dropping viral quotes on ESPN');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Thunder-forward-Chet-Holmgren-Rockets-Kevin-Durant.jpg"><figcaption>Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Chet Holmgren’s big Thunder game has Kendrick Perkins dropping viral quotes on ESPN</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-22T14:53:00-07:00">October 22nd, 2:53pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-22T14:53:00-07:00">October 22nd, 2:53pm</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Amidst a group of elite NBA bigs, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren is often forgotten about, according to ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-how-chet-holmgren-immediately-moved-ring-ceremony-torch-rockets">Holmgren’s 28-point performance against the Houston Rockets</a> helped the Thunder erase a 12-point, second-half deficit in a 125-124 double-overtime thriller. Against All-Stars Alperen Sengun, Kevin Durant, and the Rockets, Chet had a quick start, connecting on all seven of his attempts in the first half.</p><p>Holmgren finished with 28 points on 11-of-17 attempts, including 2-of-5 from deep, seven rebounds, and two assists. After the win, Perkins <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNNBA/status/1981077621006893177" rel="noopener">stood up</a> for Holmgren, explaining how the Thunder forward is often overlooked, he said, per ESPN’s NBA Today.</p><p>“It seems like we talk about all the bigs in the world, right? Sengun, Giannis, Jokic, and rightfully so, but then all of a sudden, Chet Holmgren is the forgotten. And then, he reminded us last night in that first half how he went to work,” Perkins said. “He was deep in his bag like he had waffle fries at the bottom. Inside/out. And when you talk about how unique he is as far as his skillset, that’s why they’re able to mix it up.</p><p>“Sometimes they go big with him and Isaiah Hartenstein on the floor because of Chet’s ability to knock down the trey ball. He was 2-for-5 from the three last night. But last night, even over KD in the first quarter, he was giving the shimmy shake over right, over left shoulders, the step-backs, off-the-dribble — he’s like that, Perkins concluded.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"[Chet Holmgren] was deep in his bag like he had waffle fries at the bottom."<a href="https://twitter.com/KendrickPerkins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KendrickPerkins</a> gives Chet props after a big night against Houston 🔥🍟 <a href="https://t.co/wNg1cjN52e">pic.twitter.com/wNg1cjN52e</a></p><p>— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNNBA/status/1981077621006893177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>While injuries have plagued a significant chunk of the early stages in Holmgren’s career, he looks better than he ever has one game into his fourth season with the Thunder, as Kendrick Perkins notes. With some projecting 2025-26 to be the season Holmgren makes his first All-Star appearance, he’s off to a phenomenal start.</p><h2><b>How Chet Holmgren moved on from Thunder ring ceremony</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Thunder-forward-Chet-Holmgren-1.jpg"><figcaption>Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Head coach Mark Daigneault and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-shai-gilgeous-alexander-better-plea-thrilling-win-rockets">Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stressed </a><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-shai-gilgeous-alexander-better-plea-thrilling-win-rockets" rel="noopener">that the Thunder need to improve</a> after a gutsy win over a Western Conference contender in the Houston Rockets. However, neither were surprised to see Chet Holmgren perform at such a high level. After the victory, Holmgren revealed his mindset — from the pregame festivities to the competitive game.</p><p>“We all kind of discussed it. You have to be present and enjoy the ceremony, but as soon as that’s over, we gotta get ready to play a game,” Holmgren said. “It wasn’t perfect early. It wasn’t perfect the whole game — credit to our team. Credit to the guys out there — that’s what they do, just find a way to come away with a win.”</p><p>Holmgren and the Thunder will face the Pacers on Thursday.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Chet Holmgren’s big Thunder game has Kendrick Perkins dropping viral quotes on ESPN

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-how-chet-holmgren-immediately-moved-ring-ceremony-torch-rockets');   ga('set', 'title', 'How Thunder’s Chet Holmgren immediately moved on from ring ceremony to torch Rockets');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Thunder-forward-Chet-Holmgren_5b112d.jpg"><figcaption>Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>How Thunder’s Chet Holmgren immediately moved on from ring ceremony to torch Rockets</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-22T12:10:21-07:00">October 22nd, 12:10pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-22T12:10:21-07:00">October 22nd, 12:10pm</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>OKLAHOMA CITY — After receiving his Oklahoma City Thunder championship ring and watching the commemorative <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-watch-as-okc-raises-first-ever-nba-championship-banner">2024-2025 Thunder NBA champions banner rise</a> into the rafters at the Paycom Center, Chet Holmgren was eager to start the regular season. He started 7-for-7 from the floor, scoring 18 of his 28 points in the first half of Oklahoma City’s 125-124 double-overtime win against the Houston Rockets.</p><p>Holmgren hit the ground running. Kicking the 2025-26 campaign off with a strong performance, Holmgren also finished with seven rebounds, and two assist, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sny3nWS2BaM" rel="noopener">while helping</a> the Thunder counter Rockets All-Star Alperen Sengun, who led Houston with 39 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and one block.</p><p>“We all kind of discussed it. You have to be present and enjoy the ceremony, but as soon as that’s over, we gotta get ready to play a game,” Holmgren said. “It wasn’t perfect early. It wasn’t perfect the whole game — credit to our team. Credit to the guys out there — that’s what they do, just find a way to come away with a win.”</p><p>After scoring five points in the first half, Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander found his stride with a 12-point fourth quarter, including a three to send the game into overtime. Tari Eason deflected Gilgeous-Alexander’s potential game-winning shot to force a second overtime, where SGA baited Kevin Durant into a shooting foul off a pump fake before sealing the win at the free-throw line with only 2.3 seconds left.</p><h2><b>Chet Holmgren on Thunder’s championship ceremony</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Thunder-forward-Chet-Holmgren-teammates.jpg"><figcaption>Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Thunder forward <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-chet-holmgren-showing-off-ring-ex-stars-without-championships-goes-viral">Chet Holmgren flexed his championship ring during postgame</a> media availability. After beating the Rockets to open the season, Holmgren took a moment to reflect on the emotional pregame ceremony, which put a bow on a special chapter of the franchise’s history.</p><p>“I’m so happy to see the success and happiness of everyone else out there. I’m happy to share that with them — share that moment with them,” Holmgren said. “The rings, the banner, the fact that we won — that’s forever. Nobody can take that away. That banner is gonna hang for a long time in Oklahoma City. I’m happy we’re able to share that with the city. But we also understand our organization as well. They put 0-0 inside our rings.</p><p>“Everybody knows we have to turn the page and continue to try to improve and get better. Last year was last year, and we’ll have that forever, but it doesn’t continue on forever. So, we have to turn the page.”</p><p>The Thunder will face the Pacers in a 2025 Finals rematch on Thursday.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

How Thunder’s Chet Holmgren immediately moved on from ring ceremony to torch Rockets

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-chet-holmgren-showing-off-ring-ex-stars-without-championships-goes-viral');   ga('set', 'title', 'Thunder’s Chet Holmgren showing off ring in front of ex-stars without championships goes viral');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Chet-Holmgren-showing-off-ring-in-front-of-ex-stars-without-championships-goes-viral.jpg"><figcaption>Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Thunder’s Chet Holmgren showing off ring in front of ex-stars without championships goes viral</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-22T10:32:19-07:00">October 22nd, 10:32am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-22T10:32:19-07:00">October 22nd, 10:32am</time><address><a>Jackson Stone</a>Jackson Stone is a Mercer University alum from Atlanta who graduated with a BA in communications. A lifelong sports lover, Jackson is a die-hard fan of all Atlanta teams. He joined ClutchPoints in 2023.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>On Tuesday evening, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-shai-gilgeous-alexander-better-plea-thrilling-win-rockets">Oklahoma City Thunder moved</a> to 1-0 on the young 2025 NBA season with a thrilling double overtime home win <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/houston-rockets/rockets-news-kds-loud-clapback-thunder-fans-caught-on-camera">over the Houston Rockets.</a> Both teams came into this matchup shorthanded, but ultimately, Oklahoma City was able to win the game on two Shai Gilgeous-Alexander free throws late in the second overtime frame.</p><p>Before the game, the Thunder were honored for their recent 2025 NBA championship by receiving their championship rings and lifting the banner to the rafters.</p><p>After the game, big man Chet Holmgren stopped by NBC’s postgame show with Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, and Tracy McGrady and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DQHi1DCjcA8/?img_index=2" rel="noopener">showed off his championship ring.</a></p><p>Some fans found humor in the fact that neither Anthony, Carter, nor McGrady ever won championships during their own careers (via @courtsidebuzzig on Instagram).</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="instagram-media"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DQHi1DCjcA8/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="display: flex;"><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div><div style="display: flex;"><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div><div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"><div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div><div style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div><div></div><div></div><div></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div><div></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"><div></div><div></div><div></div></div></div><div style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 24px;"><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div><p></p></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DQHi1DCjcA8/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by @courtsidebuzzig</a></p></div></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>In fairness to Holmgren, the ex-players asked to see the ring, so he was by no means showing off or trying to make anyone feel bad. Still, one can only imagine what the Hall of Famers were thinking in the presence of something they were never able to achieve in their respective illustrious careers.</p><h2><b>A big win for the Thunder</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Thunder-All-Star-Shai-Gilgeous-Alexander-2-1.jpg"><figcaption>DOUG HOKE/THEOKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Chet Holmgren got off to a hot start to the game against the Rockets, consistently finding seams in Ime Udoka’s zone defense and punishing Houston with a barrage of mid range jumpers as well as finishes around the rim. Making matters even more impressive for Oklahoma City was that they were able to knock off arguably their biggest competition in the West without their second best player in Jalen Williams, who is still recovering from offseason wrist surgery.</p><p>Reigning league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shook off a slow start to this one to finish with 35 points, including a clutch jumper that sent the game into overtime as well as the two free throws that eventually won it.</p><p>With the emotions of ring night now in the rearview mirror, the Thunder will now look to get fully locked in on the 2025-26 season and becoe the first team in the better part of a decade to repeat as NBA champions.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Thunder’s Chet Holmgren showing off ring in front of ex-stars without championships goes viral

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/celebrity/thunders-chet-holmgren-recreates-rick-ross-music-video-after-beating-rockets');   ga('set', 'title', 'Thunder’s Chet Holmgren recreates Rick Ross music video after beating Rockets');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Chet-Holmgren-recreates-Rick-Ross-music-video-after-beating-Rockets.jpg"></figure><h1>Thunder’s Chet Holmgren recreates Rick Ross music video after beating Rockets</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-22T09:42:42-07:00">October 22nd, 9:42am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-22T09:42:42-07:00">October 22nd, 9:42am</time><address><a href="http://designsux.com">Burtland Dixon</a>As an avid enthusiast of entertainment, Burtland Dixon is a passionate individual who revels in the magic of movies, sports, music, and pop culture. Whether it's catching the latest blockbuster, watching the marquee matchup of the week, attending live concerts, or getting immersed in the world of gaming, Burtland finds joy in all forms of entertainment.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Celebrity</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Oklahoma City Thunder star <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunders-chet-holmgren-aplauds-kevin-durants-greatness-before-season-opener">Chet Holmgren took his victory</a> celebration to another level Tuesday night, channeling Rick Ross after a dramatic win over the Houston Rockets.</p><p>After the Thunder’s 125-124 double-overtime win, Holmgren <a href="https://x.com/big_business_/status/1981009200244511047?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet" rel="noopener">posted a clip recreating</a> Ross’s verse from Kanye West’s Devil in a New Dress, rapping, “Lookin’ at my b—ch I bet she give your a– a bone / Lookin’ at my wrist it’ll turn yo’ a– to stone.” The 7-foot-1 big man flashed his championship ring and mouthed the lyrics from the backseat of a car, almost perfectly mimicking Ross’s iconic Maybach scene from the original music video.</p><p>Although Holmgren didn’t have the same cinematic city backdrop as Ross, he matched the swagger. Fans quickly caught on. “Flex the ring on KD and beat him in his own shoes smh he’s gonna have legendary season,” one fan wrote on X. Another joked, “He’s worse than LeBron with not knowing the lyrics.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Chet Holmgren recreates Rick Ross’ ‘Devil In A New Dress’ video <a href="https://t.co/XjoZFJxJ59">pic.twitter.com/XjoZFJxJ59</a></p><p>— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) <a href="https://twitter.com/big_business_/status/1981009200244511047?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Holmgren reminds NBA how scary OKC can be</b></h2><p>The Thunder entered the 2025-26 season with lofty expectations, and Holmgren wasted no time showing why. Against one of the best defensive teams in the league, the 22-year-old<a href="https://www.si.com/nba/thunder/news/chet-holmgren-s-third-year-progression-is-starting-off-strong" rel="noopener"> finished with 28 points, seven rebounds, and two assists</a> while shooting 11-of-17 from the floor before fouling out after 39 minutes, SI reports.</p><p>Even with Holmgren out in the clutch, Oklahoma City still found a way to close out the win, with the big man’s impact looming large. His energy and scoring early on kept the Thunder afloat while MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander struggled to find rhythm, scoring just five points in the first half.</p><p>Holmgren’s improvement has been steady since returning from the foot injury that cost him his rookie year. Between the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, he averaged 16.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game, all while becoming one of the league’s most versatile defensive anchors.</p><p>He has since transformed into the blueprint for the modern 3-and-D big that is capable of protecting the rim and spacing the floor with equal confidence. His growing strength was on full display Tuesday with two and-one finishes in traffic, further proof that he’s added muscle and maturity to his game.</p><p>If this opener is any indication, Holmgren might be ready to make that leap from promising prospect to full-fledged star. His playful Rick Ross impression might have been for laughs, but his game spoke volumes.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Thunder’s Chet Holmgren recreates Rick Ross music video after beating Rockets

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunders-chet-holmgren-aplauds-kevin-durants-greatness-before-season-opener');   ga('set', 'title', 'Thunder’s Chet Holmgren aplauds Kevin Durant’s ‘greatness’ before season opener');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Rockets-forward-Kevin-Durant.jpg"><figcaption>Dale Zanine-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Thunder’s Chet Holmgren aplauds Kevin Durant’s ‘greatness’ before season opener</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-21T14:11:16-07:00">October 21st, 2:11pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-21T14:18:11-07:00">October 21st, 2:18pm</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Rockets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Ahead of Chet Holmgren and the Oklahoma City <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-mark-daigneault-spares-championship-celebration-distraction-rockets">Thunder’s Opening Night matchup against the Houston Rockets</a>, who inked future Hall of Fame forward Kevin Durant during the offseason, making them instant title contenders. After finishing with the second-best record in the Western Conference last season (52-30), the Rockets made arguably the biggest signing in free agency.</p><p>Holmgren discussed what Durant <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vR-RHrpzHCs" rel="noopener">adds to</a> a talented and young Rockets team during Thunder morning shootaround on Tuesday.</p><p>“Same thing he adds to any team that he joins — 18 years of tough shot-making, greatness in the game of basketball, and we talk about Sengun and Adams being great players, he’s one of the great players,” Holmgren said. “And we have to game plan for him as well.”</p><p>Holmgren also admits receiving his championship ring before the Thunder raises its first championship will make for a start to the regular season he’s undoubtedly unfamiliar with, but he is feeling good about his team’s approach before playing Kevin Durant and the Rockets.</p><p>“It’s definitely a very unique situation,” Holmgren said. “Very rarely do you have such a big switch-up of the pregame routine. So, it’ll be a unique challenge tonight, but I feel like everybody has a good idea of what to expect, and everybody’s kind of approaching it in their own way to stay prepared for the game that’s happening right after.”</p><h2><b>Chet Holmgren on Thunder’s historic Opening Night</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Thunder-forward-Chet-Holmgren_d849b5.jpg"><figcaption>DOUG HOKE/THEOKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Thunder forward <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-4-biggest-storylines-champion-preseason-opening-night">Chet Holmgren could have a breakout season</a> in 2025-26, as the fourth-year starter, who missed his rookie season, has yet to earn an All-Star selection. After helping the Thunder win a championship, Holmgren’s positioned for a big season, and has been in Oklahoma City long enough to understand that fans watching them raise a championship banner is an unforgettable moment.</p><p>Holmgren discussed the magnitude of October 21 for Thunder fans at the Paycom Center.</p><p>“I think Sam had the best quote, and I’ll just kind of reiterate it; when I leave in the summer and I go home, or I’m training out in LA, or wherever I might be, people say congrats. Congrats on the championship. But when you’re here, people say thank you,” Holmgren added. “A lot of people don’t realize it really does a lot for the community, especially playing into the playoffs, and having all of those extra games. The extra boost for the economy that it brings.”</p><p>Holmgren and the Thunder will face the Rockets at 7:30 EST on NBC/Peacock on Tuesday.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2025-26 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
23.0	10.3	1.8	1.3	1.3

2025-26 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
23.0	10.3	1.8	1.3	1.3

Chet Holmgren news

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Holmgren news