Rolling to the basket, Chet Holmgren completed the alley-oop by throwing down a lob pass from Jared Butler early in the second quarter. This was the first of several dunks from the seven-footer in his best summer league performance of the year.
Holmgren’s dominant night highlighted the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 98-87 win over the Indiana Pacers. After sitting the first night of this back-to-back, the 2022 No. 2 pick showed out in what is likely his final summer league game.
“I think (we’re) doing a better job each game of not only competing but carrying some of the stuff over from film,” Thunder summer league coach Kam Woods said about the win.
After sitting out most of their notable players the night before, the Thunder elected to roll them out for what is likely one final time. The Thunder’s two 2022 lottery picks that played didn’t disappoint. Holmgren and Ousmane Dieng turned in their best summer league games. The duo combined for 47 points on 18-of-26 (69.2%) from the field as they steamrolled the Pacers.
“The chemistry was really good in the team. … It was just moving the ball … having fun on the court,” Dieng said about the team’s performance.
The Thunder led the entire night with a lead as large as 17 points. The Thunder entered halftime with a 50-39 lead and lost only two points of that lead by the end of the third quarter.
The Pacers made it interesting in the final frame. They cut OKC’s lead to eight points, but the Thunder answered every threat with mini-runs of their own to keep a healthy distance on the scoreboard.
With several prominent players returning, OKC’s offense returned to robust levels of production. The Thunder shot 40-of-76 (52.6%) from the field — an even more impressive number considering they shot an underwhelming 6-of-24 (25%) from 3.
Led by Holmgren, the Thunder dominated inside of the paint as they outscored the Pacers, 58-34. While the offense was pretty, the Thunder defense was also at its best by limiting Indiana.
The Pacers struggled to generate offense against Holmgren and company. Indiana shot 33-of-87 (37.9%) from the field and went 12-of-38 (31.6%) from 3. The Pacers also committed 11 turnovers to just 17 assists. They even struggled from the free-throw line, where they went an ugly 9-of-19 (47.4%).
“There’s definitely some chemistry and some confidence in my teammates to know I have their back down there by the rim,” Holmgren said. “It gives them more confidence to get up and pressure knowing that if they get beat, I got their back.”
Lottery rookie Jarace Walker stood out for the Pacers. He finished with 20 points on 8-of-19 shooting and nine rebounds. Second-round rookie Isaiah Wong also had 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting and four assists.
The Thunder improve to 2-1 in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, the Pacers suffered their first defeat and sit 2-1.
If this is truly the final summer league game for most of the notable Thunder players, then they went out with their most impressive performance — both as individuals and as a collective.
Following this 11-point win, the Thunder will play at least two more summer league games. OKC’s next contest will be against the Washington Wizards on Friday, July 14.
Let’s look at Thunder player grades.
Chet Holmgren: A-plus
Chet Holmgren saved his best performance for last. In what is likely his final summer league game, he was a monster on both ends of the court.
In 30 minutes, Holmgren finished with 25 points on 9-of-15 shooting, nine rebounds and a game-high five blocks. He was also a game-high plus-18.
After a slow first quarter, Holmgren took over the rest of the way with 23 points in the final three frames.
The Thunder utilized Holmgren as a paint threat all game. He went an efficient 8-of-12 inside of the paints from a mix of alley-oops, dunks, layups and second-chance points. Playing with traditional playmakers, he feasted inside and took advantage of his lengthy frame.
Holmgren definitely has room to grow as a ball-handler and perimeter scorer, but how he was used tonight is likely the most optimal way to use him on offense for immediate impact. It’ll be a delicate balance the Thunder must master when it comes to developing his offense.
On the other end, Holmgren was as dominant with a ridiculous five blocks. He was a one-man machine on defense that refused to give the Pacers any easy looks near the rim when he was on the floor.
This even included in transition, as Holmgren chased and swatted down a fast break attempt by the Pacers near the end of the first quarter. This was arguably his most breathtaking swat, but the fact there are five candidates to choose from is ridiculous in itself.
The block numbers are insane. Holmgren’s turned in multi-block games like they’re nothing throughout summer league. Who knows how sustainable that’ll be in the regular season, but the rim protection is as legit as advertised.
Just super special stuff from a special player.
Chet Holmgren's presence was felt on both ends of the court tonight 🔥
25 PTS | 9 REB | 5 BLK#NBA2KSummerLeague pic.twitter.com/RTkSgkDVGn
— NBA (@NBA) July 13, 2023
In sync and on time pic.twitter.com/WeDc57ibhL
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) July 13, 2023
🎥⚡️ pic.twitter.com/t9dasyx1gs
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) July 13, 2023
Chet Holmgren refuses to allow the bucket 😤
He's up to 5 blocks tonight! #NBA2KSummerLeague pic.twitter.com/K3O86Q5KDH
— NBA (@NBA) July 13, 2023
Ousmane Dieng: A-plus
If this is it for Ousmane Dieng in summer league, he neatly tied a bow on an excellent campaign despite a disastrous start.
In 33 minutes, Dieng finished with 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting, nine rebounds and six assists. He also shot 3-of-4 from 3.
The 20-year-old’s first and (likely) final summer league games serve as quite the juxtaposition. Dieng’s 1-of-11 night in Utah feels like forever ago. Since then, his flashes slowly burned brighter with each outing until tonight, when they turned into consistent lighting.
By the end of the game, all you can do is throw your hands up in disbelief as Dieng resembled prime Paul George on several of his off-the-dribble 3-pointers that feathered into the basket.
Tonight is a nice reminder of the type of player Dieng can develop into if everything goes right. A 6-foot-10 wing with the ball-handling skills of a guard is a special prototype to have on your roster.
“I thought he’s done a good job at just continuing to stack high-intensity days on top of each other,” Woods said about Dieng.
Ous with some early air time 🛫 pic.twitter.com/seHnHqFJBg
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) July 13, 2023
1, 2, 3…JWill gets 🆙 pic.twitter.com/GjvVZnZH39
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) July 13, 2023
Keyontae Johnson: A
All the talk following OKC’s first game in Las Vegas centered around Cason Wallace, but in two games since then, Keyontae Johnson is slowly stealing some shine from his fellow drafted rookie with awesome back-to-back nights.
In 26 minutes off the bench, Johnson finished with 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting and three rebounds. The 6-foot-5 undersized wing looked like Chris Paul with all of his short mid-range jumpers.
Johnson did all of his scoring inside of the paint and on non-paint 2-point attempts. He continues to show flashes.
“He had a lot of questions early, not asking as much anymore, which is a good thing,” Woods said about Johnson’s progression. “He’s starting to get more comfortable with what we’re doing.”
Jared Butler: B
Being a steady hand — minus a couple of iso possessions — Jared Butler was rock solid for the Thunder.
After sitting out the first night of this back-to-back, which likely speaks highly of his odds of keeping his two-way spot, Butler finished with 18 points, seven assists and three steals in 21 minutes in his start.
The third-year player continues to provide quality veteran minutes as a playmaker who lets his teammates go to work. Butler played an excellent pick-and-roll game with Holmgren that resulted in a pair of lobs.
Staying ready!
We see you, @J_Hooper11 👀 pic.twitter.com/dhnnwFHghZ
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) July 13, 2023
