The Oklahoma City Thunder will be without one of their top frontcourt players on Friday night, as Chet Holmgren has been ruled out for the matchup against the Chicago Bulls because of a hip injury. The announcement came as a late addition to the injury report and marks the first game Holmgren will miss since March 9.
With the Thunder holding the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, the team can afford to exercise caution with its star big man, but his absence still creates questions about how Oklahoma City will adjust its defensive identity against a struggling Bulls team tonight at the Paycom Center.
Why Is Chet Holmgren Out Against the Bulls?
Holmgren’s recent performance raised some concerns after he finished with 10 points and 5 rebounds and shot 42.9% from the field against the Boston Celtics. It remains unclear if he was already dealing with discomfort during that game, but the Thunder are not taking any risks with the playoffs just around the corner.
Holmgren has been a critical piece of Oklahoma City’s dominant season, and keeping him healthy for the postseason is the ultimate priority.
OKC has ruled out Holmgren due to a right hip contusion. With Holmgren sidelined, Cason Wallace, Ajay Mitchell, and Jaylin Williams could all be in line for increased roles.
The Thunder have been one of the healthiest teams in the league recently, so Holmgren’s absence is one of the few injuries they are dealing with heading into tonight’s game.
Holmgren has put together an impressive season, averaging 17.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.7 assists while shooting 55.2% from the field and 35.3% from 3-point range across 63 games. His impact goes far beyond the box score. The 23-year-old provides elite rim protection, excellent shot-blocking timing, and rare mobility for a 7-foot-1 big man.
His ability to alter shots and switch defensively makes him a critical part of the Thunder’s defensive identity, which currently ranks first in the NBA with a defensive rating of 107.5.
Without Holmgren on the floor, Oklahoma City could see a drop-off in interior defense and overall versatility. Isaiah Hartenstein will likely absorb more minutes in the middle, while the Thunder may turn to smaller lineups featuring Jalen Williams and Lu Dort to maintain their defensive intensity.
The Bulls are dealing with their own injury crisis, listing 11 total players on their injury report, including confirmed absences for Zach Collins, Noa Essengue, Jaden Ivey, Yuki Kawamura, Mac McClung, Anfernee Simons, and Jalen Smith.
The team will hope this is nothing more than a short-term precaution, allowing Holmgren to rest and recover before the games truly matter. For now, the Thunder will look to extend their dominance at home without their star center against a Chicago team that sits at 29-43 and is on a one-game losing streak.
