Apr 29, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) passes the ball to forward Chet Holmgren (7) against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half of game four of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images / Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
There are times when results can cloud your judgment. As the Oklahoma City Thunder fell for just the 15th time this season, 125-111 inside the Toyota Center, it is important not to have that be the case tonight.
Oklahoma City already has the top record in the Western Conference locked up and remains in the driver’s seat for the top record in the NBA even after this result. The only thing this loss hinders the Thunder from is the round number of 70 wins in a single season –– a lofty goal anyways, as the Thunder would’ve needed to win out to achieve it.
This is the second time the Thunder have dropped a game to its H-Town foes –– both in Houston –– but they still take the season-series 3-2, as the two sides played an additional game due to the NBA Cup semi-final meeting in Vegas.
Houston, simply put, outplayed Oklahoma City tonight. The Rockets dominated on the glass, forced uncharacteristic Thunder turnovers, shot better than OKC and out-executed the best team in the NBA. At times, all that is left to do is tip your cap.
However, in the midst of this messy loss to the Rockets, the Thunder did get massive highlights from its two young stars in Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams.
More important than any aspirations for win No. 70, the Thunder should have its sights set on winning an NBA Championship this season. To do that, OKC would have to continue to be an outlier and lean on two players going through the postseason for just their second time in the process.
Tonight, the Thunder’s third-year duo showed why that is possible. Holmgren splashed in a career-high six of his eight 3-point attempts en route to 20 points, four rebounds, an assist and two blocks in 32 minutes of work.
His counterpart from Santa Clara posted an even gaudier stat line of 33 points, four assists, three rebounds, two steals and a block while shooting a jaw-dropping 61.9% from the floor, 66.7% from beyond the arc and 83.3% at the charity stripe on six attempts.
Williams dazzled with his ability to get to his spots and slice through a tenacious Houston defense on his way to the rim. Stopping on a dime to dump in mid-range points. Shooting out of a cannon in transition to cap off the play. Splashing in a pair of timely triples on a night that OKC’s shooting ran dry.
The No. 12 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft did it all tonight in a performance that might fly under the radar due to the team result but shouldn’t. For the Thunder to be successful, this is the type of play they need consistently from Williams. It’s also the caliber of games he has posted since returning from a hip injury he suffered against the Denver Nuggets in March.
In four games back from that injury, not including tonight’s eye-popping performance, Williams is averaging 21 points, four rebounds, four assists and nearly a stock (steals + block) per game on 53/43/68 shooting splits. Numbers that will be bolstered by this banner performance.
For Oklahoma City to reach its goals of a title, Williams has to continue to command an offense in this way as a No. 2 scoring option. Holmgren has to continue to can triples and swat shots. Tonight was still a step in the right direction of its championship chase, despite what the scoreboard reads.
Song of the Day: Houston by Larry Gatlin
