Chet Holmgren’s DPOI campaign is getting a huge boost from the Cavs coach

Despite missing two starters, then, playing without Alex Caruso and Jaylin Williams, Chet Holmgren and the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated Kenny Atkinson‘s Cleveland Cavs 136-104 on Monday. The Thunder strung together multiple defensive stops while lighting up the Cavs from the perimeter, where Oklahoma City connected on 23 of 47 from deep.

After the win, coach Atkinson called out his players for making poor reads on the offense, including a tackle on Holmgren, which he said was unwise against the best rim protector in the NBA.

“We got to the rim 19 times in the first half. We got to the paint. We got to the rim,” Atkinson said. “I’m a little disappointed with how we read the rim, right? They put Chet Holmgren in there. He’s probably the number one rim protector in the league and we didn’t take him out. We have to understand. It was physical and forceful, but I also think it was our read on the play. We didn’t read the game the way the play was right. A troubling decision.”

Holmgren undoubtedly strengthened his case for his first All-Star selection in Monday’s win against the Cavs. He finished with 28 points on an efficient 11-for-16 shooting, including 4-for-5 from deep, eight rebounds and two blocks. Without All-Stars Jaylen Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein, Holmgren’s reinforcement on both ends of the floor was huge, especially after the Thunder lost Jaylin to a back injury in the first half.

Lou Dort’s five threes led Oklahoma City with 23 threes on 49% shooting. Holmgren and Isaiah Joe also connected on four 3-pointers on a combined 8-for-12 shooting. With just 10 active players in Monday’s win against the Cavs, the Thunder improved to 36-8.

Mark Daigneault reacts to the Thunder’s win

Thunder head coach Marc Daigneault praised his team’s response to adversitybeating the Cavs with only 10 active players, led by Chet Holmgren (28 points) and Shai Giljus-Alexander (30 points). For Daigneault, the Thunder’s persistence is a testament her unwavering confidence in the midst of his next-man-up mentality.

“What I love about this team is that we have a group of guys who see those types of setbacks as a challenge,” Daigneault said. “And that became our challenge tonight with just Chet in the frontcourt. So we played a little bit (for) a lot of minutes. Kenrich did a great job, but the whole team did a great job. Even with Allen there, we were small in the first half and the guys really battled.

“Then, I thought, huge minutes from Wiggins, Isaiah Joe; those guys were big tonight. Not just the shooting and the offense, but the way they moved the ball, and the way they defended and stuck their noses in the scrimmage. It was a great overall team win,” Daigneault concluded.

The shortstop Thunder will face the Bucks on Wednesday.