Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said he was uncertain on how to better integrate Chet Holmgren into the offense following a loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
Finding a way to involve Holmgren is critical for the Oklahoma City Thunder to diversify their scoring attack. The team struggled to find a rhythm on Sunday night, leading to a significant defeat that shifts the momentum of the series.
The Thunder fell 103–82 [1] in Game 4 on Sunday night. The game was played on the Spurs' home court in San Antonio [2]. This result leaves the playoff series tied 2–2 [1].
During post-game discussions, Gilgeous-Alexander was asked specifically how he and the team could get Holmgren more involved offensively [3]. Holmgren had a quiet performance in the loss, providing limited impact on the scoreboard [4]. The star guard said he was stumped by the question, reflecting the difficulty of breaking through the Spurs' defensive schemes.
Earlier in the game, the Thunder struggled to respond to a physical start by the San Antonio roster [5]. This lack of early aggression contributed to the 21-point margin of defeat [1]. The team now needs to adjust its offensive sets to ensure Holmgren is a primary threat, rather than a secondary option.
The series now shifts back to Oklahoma City. Game 5 is scheduled for Tuesday night [1]. The Thunder will look to leverage their home court advantage to regain control of the series and find a more balanced scoring distribution among their starters.
“The series now shifts back to Oklahoma City.”
The inability of the Thunder to integrate Holmgren's scoring suggests a tactical vulnerability that the Spurs have successfully exploited. If Oklahoma City cannot find a way to make Holmgren a consistent offensive threat in Game 5, the burden on Gilgeous-Alexander will increase, potentially making the Thunder's offense more predictable and easier to defend.
