The Oklahoma City Thunder have gone into a slump in the last week, and they may be without one of their starters against the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday, December 22.
Chet Holmgren is listed as questionable with lower back spasms on the official injury report. The center had 14 points and five rebounds on 44.4% shooting from the field in Oklahoma City’s 112-107 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, December 19.
The 23-year-old in his fourth NBA season is averaging 18.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists on 57.2% shooting from the field and 39.6% shooting from three. Holmgren missed his entire first season in the league (2022-23) with a Lisfranc injury in his right foot, which he sustained in a summer event while guarding LeBron James.
Is Chet Holmgren Playing Tonight?
Holmgren’s new ailment is certainly not related to his early-career foot injury, but he did miss four games earlier this season with back soreness. The injury designation for Monday’s game could be the Thunder exercising some caution with their young star on the first night of a back-to-back for the team.
Oklahoma City is going to need Holmgren healthy for the rest of the season as they try to win back-to-back championships, which would be the first time in the NBA since the Golden State Warriors claimed titles in 2017 and 2018. Holmgren is a key piece of the Thunder’s league-leading defense as a primary rim protector.
Oklahoma City will likely evaluate Holmgren in pregame warmups and then make a decision on his final status.
Oklahoma City Thunder Struggling As Of Late
After a scorching hot start to the season, the Thunder have cooled off a bit, losing two of their last three games.
Oklahoma City fell 111-109 to the San Antonio Spurs in a thriller in the NBA Cup semifinals on Saturday, December 13. The return of center Victor Wembanyama from injury helped San Antonio hand Oklahoma City just its second loss of the season.
The Thunder responded with a 122-101 win over the Los Angeles Clippers (whose 2026 first-round pick they own) on Thursday, December 18, but they were outlasted again by the Timberwolves on Friday. This time, Anthony Edwards returned from injury to lead his team to a victory, scoring 26 points with 12 rebounds and hitting the go-ahead 3-pointer with 38.5 seconds remaining.
Oklahoma City still owns the best record in the NBA at 25-3, but its chances of surpassing the 2015-16 Warriors for the best regular-season record in NBA history (73-9) have diminished.
The Thunder will be shorthanded for tonight’s game, with center Isaiah Hartenstein out with right soleus soreness and forward Jaylin Williams out with right heel bursitis. Alex Caruso is questionable with a right middle finger sprain. Oklahoma City will face San Antonio on the road tomorrow night and at home on Christmas Day.
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