Kofi Inkoom
The 2023-24 NBA season has kicked off with a promising beginning for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
They embarked on their first two away games and secured an impressive 2-0 record, marking a significant team achievement not witnessed since 2016.
Final: OKC 108, Cleveland 105
One helluva road comeback.
The Thunder is 2-0 for the first time since 2016.
— Joe Mussatto (@joe_mussatto) October 28, 2023
Chet Holmgren added some humor to the mix by playfully poking fun at the NBA’s stats team after the Oklahoma City Thunder’s hard-fought 108-105 victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.
Taking to his X timeline, he jokingly alluded to potential inaccuracies in the official stats assigned to him.
@nba please go watch the tape and give me the correct # of blocks. Idc about stats but I worked hard af for those😂good W thunder up lol
— chet holmgren (@ChetHolmgren) October 28, 2023
As the second overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Holmgren delivered an outstanding performance in this win, recording 16 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and blocking seven shots.
His seven blocks set a fresh franchise record for a rookie in a single game.
chet holmgren threw a block party tonight pic.twitter.com/gUQjIyXMP4
— buckets (@buckets) October 28, 2023
Holmgren also came through in the clutch with a crucial three-pointer that leveled the score at 102 with just over a minute remaining in regulation.
He’s been maintaining an average of 13.5 points across his first two appearances in the league.
However, both Holmgren and Thunder fans felt that he had a more substantial impact on the game than what the official box score indicated.
Following his recovery from a Lisfranc injury that sidelined him for the entire 2022-23 season, the 21-year-old has made a triumphant return, excelling as a defensive force under the rim and a key player in stretching the floor on offense.
Next on the Thunder’s agenda is a return to their home court, where they will prepare to take on the defending champions, the Denver Nuggets, led by two time MVP Nikola Jokic.
This upcoming game has the potential to define the Thunder’s path in the fiercely competitive Western Conference.