Chet Holmgren earns great praise for play 4 defenses

The Oklahoma City Thunder came to play 4 of NBA FINALE knowing they needed victory to regain control of the series. Facing a The enemy crowd and red-hot Indian Pacers The team, the young Thunder composition, found himself once again, relying on their rising defensive anchor.

And Chet Holmgren the delivered exactly what they needed. His performance helped Oklahoma City to withdraw a critical victory 111-104, which tied the series into two games per piece and moved the momentum back into the thunder.

The defensive impact of Holmgren was impossible to ignore. While most attention fell on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander explosion for reaching a match, the main coach Mark Daigneault He made sure he pointed out the importance of Holmgren’s work at the other end of the floor. After the game, Daigneault did not keep his praise.

“He is just so hit on the rim, but he can really switch,” the coach of the year from 2024. Years She said post-game. “He’s very overturned, she has great legs. We just found ourselves behind the ball, and the shift could be late. But we can’t, unless he can do it tonight, and he can’t do it.

Mark DaigneaULT on Chet Defense: “He kept it great … He can really cross.” pic.twitter.com/mhgvupobkz

– Clemente Almanza (@ Calmanza1007) 14. June 2025

Daigneault’s words were perfectly captured by the story of the night. Holmgren was defensively everywhere. Whether the protection of the rim, switching to guards or closing shooters, his versatility has disrupted the pegs and closed multiple scoring that he initiated that Indiana tried to increase in the game.

Tovering 7-foot-1 front ended with 14 points and 15 jumps, shooting another double double in the biggest phase of your young career.

But Station Stat just speaks part of the story. His ability to turn off and defend Tires Haliburton, Benedict Mathurin, and even wings like Aaron Nesmith held an Indiana of finding the inconsistencies exploited in previous games. Time and again, Indiana tried to drift Holmgren on the rim, but he stayed with the ball every time, cut off the driver’s bar and forcibly severe shots. Its combination of size, time and feet and feet frustrated pagers all night.

Indiana entered 4 vehicles high after an exciting game 3. Bakeries returned late in that game to take a series of 2-1, assisted Mathurina Career Night from Bench And Haliburton is a stable player. I come to the game 4, Patchers looked to push the city of Oklahoma in the edge. They found themselves instead Thunder team is determined to transfer script.

After Igrading with two-digit double digits in the third quarter, Oklahoma City is back. Gilgeous-Alexander led the accusationAchieving 35 points, with 15 years coming in the last four minutes. Every time the pacing threatens to drag, he replied with a clutch bin or free throw. Jalen Williams provided strong support with 27 points of 27 years, while Alek Caruso added 20 off the bench, giving lightly worth contributing throughout the committee.

But behind all offensive peak, he was a holmgren’s stable presence. His jump secured key additional assets, and his edge protection stopped Indiana to easily turn into conversion. His defensive rotations in the fourth quarter prevented the haliburctone to control the tempo as he had in previous games. With Holmgren, which anchor defense, the city of Oklahoma was finally able to slow down Indian’s ball and Remove the crowd from the game.

For Thunder, this victory on the road could not come for a better time. Back the advantage of the domestic court and tying series on two games, it gives them upper hand while returning in Oklahoma to play 5. Paycom center will take their first step closer to their first NBA championship, because the franchise moved.

The team of the team showed that they could handle the moment. Gilgeous-Alexander still proves that it belongs among elite stars of the league. Williams and Caruso provide a critical depth of scoring and defensive grit. And now, Holmgren shows that he may be good Defensive key holding all together.

As a game 5 approaches, the confidence of lightning grows. They have already shown that they can win the road and have already proved that they can answer the conception. With Holmgren, which anchor defense and a criminal offense on all cylinders, Oklahoma City enters the next chapter of the finals with belief that this young group could be ready to complete what they started.

HOLMGREEN GAME 4 Performance was an empitant statement. And if it continues to defend at this level, thunder will be very difficult to win the rest of the way.