It wasn't the cleanest offensive performance for the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. But they ultimately prevailed over the New York Knicks 103-100, with OG Anunoby missing the game-tying shot in the final seconds.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was back after taking the first half of the back-to-back off, and he was remarkably efficient. In 35 minutes on the court, he posted 26 points, three rebounds, and eight assists while knocking down 9 of his 16 attempts from the field.
But the true offensive star of the night was Chet Holmgren. After getting off to a hot start and sinking four 3-pointers in just the first quarter, Holmgren finished the game with 28 points, eight rebounds, and two assists.
Not only is this performance highly promising for what Holmgren can provide in a playoff scenario, but it could be the start of a run that cements his bid for an All-NBA spot. In short, Holmgren's most impressive scoring performance this season couldn't have come at a better time.
Chet Holmgren's dominant offensive performance proves many of his doubters wrong
Even as Holmgren has developed into one of the most authoritative shot blockers and rim protectors in the NBA, his lack of offensive aggression has consistently been a gap in his game.
Prior to last night, Holmgren hadn't scored more than 20 points since Jan. 27 against the New Orleans Pelicans. In the time between that game and last night, he had averaged just 14.5 points while knocking down only 23.1% of his 3-point attempts.
Frankly, one would expect to see more from him on that end of the court, especially considering Gilgeous-Alexander missed most of that time with an abdominal strain. Even NBA analyst Zach Lowe pointed this out on a recent episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, using that extended stretch as a knock against Holmgren's case for making his first All-NBA team.
But Lowe also made an important point about Holmgren's remaining chances. If Holmgren is able to find his offensive footing and be more aggressive finding his shots from beyond the arc and in the paint, a strong run over the final 20-or-so games could make him a shoe-in for the award given his defensive impact.
There's also the all-important matter of the Thunder's viability in the playoffs. Part of the reason Holmgren was so effective against the Knicks was the amount of attention they devoted to Gilgeous-Alexander. Although Gilgeous-Alexander was ultra-efficient as always, New York successfully blitzed and double-teamed him on a number of possessions
If Holmgren is able to have this type of game when his number is called in the playoffs, it could make all the difference for Oklahoma City. Hopefully he can ride this momentum for the remainder of the season.