Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder star Chet Holmgren needed to be helped off the courtroom after a tough fall within the lane in opposition to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday evening. The staff later introduced he suffered a proper iliac wing fracture and a return-to-play protocol might be supplied in eight to 10 weeks.
Holmgren, not even halfway by way of the primary quarter of their 127-116 loss to the Warriors on the Paycom Heart in Oklahoma Metropolis, went as much as contest a layup from Andrew Wiggins on the baseline. After he made contact with Wiggins, Holmgren landed laborious instantly on his proper hip beneath the basket.
Wiggins made the layup and didn’t draw a foul, however Holmgren remained below the ring in ache for fairly a while earlier than he was ultimately helped again to the locker room. Holmgren struggled to place any weight on his proper leg as he left the courtroom.
Concern right here in OKc: Chet Holmgren took a shot to the facet whereas defending an Andrew Wiggins first quarter layup. Simply wanted assist attending to the locker room. Wasn’t placing weight on proper leg. Seemed to be grabbing hip/indirect space when he was on the bottom.
Holmgren, whom the Thunder chosen with the No. 2 general choose in 2022 out of Gonzaga, missed his whole first season within the league with a foot harm he sustained in a pro-am recreation. He averaged 16.5 factors and seven.9 rebounds per recreation final season, his first true yr within the league, whereas serving to Oklahoma Metropolis to its first playoff look since 2020.
Holmgren entered Sunday’s recreation averaging 18.2 factors and 9.2 rebounds in 9 video games this season. He had no factors and 4 rebounds Sunday when he was injured and can now miss a big chunk of the season once more.
“Can’t tell if I feel better or worse about this having been through something similar before,” Holmgren wrote on Twitter early Monday morning. “On one hand I know how to approach it, I know what to do, what not to do and how beautiful the other side is. But on the other hand I’ve felt the frustration of this process, and the wear it puts on your mind. Most of all I’m hurt I can’t help my teammates and play for our fans and supporters for a while.”
Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 36 factors and 7 assists within the win whereas draining seven 3-pointers. The loss dropped Oklahoma Metropolis right into a first-place tie atop the Western Convention with Phoenix and Golden State.
Backup middle Isaiah Hartenstein, the Thunder’s $87 million free-agent acquisition, hasn’t performed but after struggling a damaged hand within the preseason. He might return later this month and can play an enormous function till Holmgren heals.
“Everyone who sticks with me and our team, along with my need for hoops, is a big part of my passion to return,” Holmgren continued on Twitter. “Don’t pity me or feel bad, there’s lots of people out there rn with real problems that don’t heal. Anyways excuse my rambling just wanted to address our okc fans and family. Thoughts from da hospital bed.”
