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The Oklahoma City Thunder are heavy favorites against the Phoenix Suns in their first-round NBA playoff series. The Thunder are favored by 13.5 points according to ESPN. This is one of the highest point spreads in playoff history.
For Thunder All-Star Chet Holmgren, this matchup is ideal. He can begin a successful postseason run on a high note. Holmgren needs to attack the Suns’ weak frontcourt.
Suns center Mark Williams is questionable for Game 1. Holmgren has had high success in four games against Phoenix this season. He averaged 19.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.
Holmgren shot with high efficiency in those games. He recorded splits of 64.4% from the floor. He also shot 53.3% from three-point range and 80% from the free-throw line.
The All-NBA hopeful had two 20-plus-point efforts against the Suns. The Thunder won both of those games. Both efforts came in high-leverage NBA Cup environments.
He scored 23 points in a 123-119 group stage win. Holmgren scored 24 points and blocked three shots in a 138-89 knockout round victory. That was a demolition of Phoenix.
Holmgren scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the Thunder’s lone loss. The Suns won by three points on a Devin Booker game-winner. Holmgren still succeeded in that game.
He played just 21 minutes in his final appearance against Phoenix. Holmgren scored 13 points in a 136-109 victory on Feb. 11. It was a dominant win for Oklahoma City.
“I’m extremely excited,” Holmgren said about the playoffs. “I feel really good right now.” The Suns get high impact from guards and wings. They have lacked frontcourt depth all season.
This lack of depth has cost the Suns wins. Mark Williams and Oso Ighodaro headline their center rotation. Their only other occasional rotation big is first-round pick Khaman Maluach.
The Suns have abundant wings in their role player rotation. This roster construction is rare for a playoff team. The league is trending toward “double-big” lineups for every matchup.
