Oklahoma City’s first several games without junior center Chet Holmgren have gone well in the end.
The defense remains impressive despite having to overcome not having a center or any player taller than 6-foot-6 in the starting lineup, limiting teams to under 100 points twice since Holmgren’s injury. After defeating the Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Pelicans, the Thunder showed tremendous resolve on both ends of the floor without their 7-foot-1 two-way talent. But defensively, the main point of interest will be Holmgren’s absence, and the team has continued to rally and defend the paint aggressively despite that.
Sunday night, Oklahoma City will face one of its toughest defensive matchups, if not the toughest, against the Dallas Mavericks. As we saw last year in the Western Conference semifinals, even with Holmgren, Dallas completely dominated Oklahoma City on the boards and in the paint overall. Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford exposed the Thunder’s inept rebounding ability, as well as the hole in the defense in the middle of the paint.
Holmgren has made an effort in the offseason to tone that down and improve, and that was evident in his opening performances this season as he suffered a broken pelvis.
The Thunder will have to find their resolve again on Sunday night, although the challenge will be a little less with Luka Doncic out of the game due to a knee injury. However, Alex Caruso will also miss the game, leaving a versatile and agile defender on the sidelines.
Oklahoma City, which has achieved a three-game winning streak, will seek a victory at home to achieve its twelfth victory of the season.
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