First, it was against three-time Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, and now over reigning Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.
Chet Holmgren now holds two wins against some of the league’s best big men as the Oklahoma City Thunder keeps rolling.
Holmgren scored 15 of his 19 points in the first half and the Thunder are off to their best franchise start in seven years, thanks to a strong 105-93 home victory against the Spurs.
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) October 31, 2024
In their first match-up of the season, the 22-year-old Holmgren, who finished second in the ROTY year race last season to Wembanyama, helped Oklahoma City remain unbeaten in four games.
He got going early and tallied 15 first-half points as OKC took a 59-44 halftime lead.
Spin & lefty lay.
— NBA (@NBA) October 31, 2024
Top of the key 3.
15 in the early-going for Chet Holmgren on ESPN 👀 pic.twitter.com/dFCkgtbx4Z
Lu Dort paced Oklahoma City in scoring with 20 markers on top of six boards and six triples, as the Thunder hit 17 threes and tallied a season-high 17 steals to go along with 28 assists.
MAKE THAT 5.
— NBA (@NBA) October 31, 2024
Dort is flamethrowing and the OKC crowd is loving it! https://t.co/vuoS6PWEfj pic.twitter.com/cnbigXB6lk
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander chipped in 18 points on top of four rebounds and five assists but struggled from the field and went just 7-of-20.
Everyone is workin' workin' 💼@OGandE Power Play of the Game pic.twitter.com/nd358i88TP
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) October 31, 2024
On the other hand, Wembanyama was limited to a career-low six points and eight rebounds on a 1-of-5 shooting, upon entering the game averaging 20 points and 12 rebounds.
Chris Paul had 14 markers, five rebounds, and nine dimes in his first game back in Oklahoma City as a Spur. The 20-year veteran spent one year for the Thunder back in the 2019-2020 season.
another one 🔑 pic.twitter.com/wzWLb2j1aA
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) October 31, 2024
Harrison Barnes took up the scoring cudgels for San Antonio with 18 markers while Malaki Branham contributed 15.
Final frame on deck!
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) October 31, 2024
END Q3 | SAS 70, OKC 82 pic.twitter.com/RgGslAIIRT
The Spurs trimmed down the Thunder’s lead to seven points, 77-70, off a Keldon John triple after trailing by as much as 19 points with 2:33 left in the third frame.
But OKC responded with five unanswered points behind a Ajay Mitchell lay-up and an Isaiah Joe triple to carry a 82-70 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.
The Thunder kept the Spurs at the bay in the fourth en route to tallying their fourth-straight win with a double-digit margin.
San Antonio, meanhwile, lost back-to-back games for the first time this season and now slid to 1-3.
Up next for OKC are the Portland Trail Blazers while the Spurs hope to stop their skid when they take on the Utah Jazz.
