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Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gives Chet Holmgren ultimate praise after Game 2 win
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- Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gives Chet Holmgren ultimate praise after Game 2 win
Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gives Chet Holmgren ultimate praise after Game 2 win appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The Oklahoma City Thunder now hold a 2-0 lead against the Phoenix Suns in their first-round series in the playoffs after winning in Game 2, 120-107, at Paycom Center.
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The Thunder leaned on a strong performance in the third quarter, led by Chet Holmgren , who scored eight points in four minutes, ballooning their lead to 14 points, 77-63.
It proved to be the game-changing stretch, as Oklahoma City took control of the rest of the way.
In the postgame interview, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sang the praises of Holmgren, who finished with 19 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks. He shot 7-of-12 from the field, including 3-of-6 from long range.
“I’m gonna sound like a broken record, but since the day that Chet Holmgren played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, we’ve been the first seed in the West,” said Gilgeous-Alexander.
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“It’s no coincidence. He makes plays and he anchors the best defense in the league.”
The Thunder selected Holmgren as the No. 2 pick in 2022. He, however, sat out his rookie year due to a foot injury. Two seasons later, he helped OKC win the title.
This season, he averaged 17.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks, earning his first nod to the All-Star Game.
With the Suns’ lack of talent in the paint, Holmgren, who was a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year , should continue to impose his will for the rest of the series. He had 16 points, seven rebounds, two steals, and two blocks in Game 1.
Game 3 is set in Phoenix on Saturday.
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