Thunder center Chet Holmgren (pelvic fracture) out at least 8-10 weeks

Holmgren took a hard fall and had to be helped off the floor in the 1st quarter of Sunday's game.

From NBA.com News Services

Updated on November 11, 2024 12:47 PM

Chet Holmgren injures his right hip in the 1st quarter of Sunday's game in San Francisco.

Oklahoma City will be without center/forward Chet Holmgren for eight to 10 weeks.

The team announced Sunday that Holmgren sustained a right iliac wing fracture during the first quarter of Sunday’s 127-116 home loss to the Golden State Warriors. Per the team, he is expected to return this season.

Per the Thunder, Chet Holmgren suffered a right iliac wing fracture on Sunday night. He’s expected to return this season, and a status update will be provided in 8-10 weeks. pic.twitter.com/Eqeu2IRS9h

— Joel Lorenzi (@jxlorenzi) November 11, 2024

Holmgren, 22, is in his second NBA season and is averaging 16.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2.6 blocks per game while playing 26.5 minutes per game. He has recorded four double-doubles and ranks No. 3 in the NBA in blocks per game, trailing only the San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama (4.0 bpg) and Utah Jazz’s Walker Kessler (2.8)

It’s a big loss for a team that started the season with seven straight wins and currently is tied for the Western Conference lead with an 8-2 record. Holmgren was runner-up for Rookie of the Year last season and has been one of the league’s most efficient players this season.

Holmgren contested a layup by Andrew Wiggins, collided with him and hit the floor hard. He immediately reached for his right hip and stayed down for a while before he was helped off the court. He did not put pressure on his right leg, but he gave a thumbs-up as he hobbled off.

The Thunder led 16-12 when Holmgren was taken out and eventually fell behind by 30 late in the third quarter.

Oklahoma City entered Sunday night leading the league in defensive rating but didn’t look like it in the second and third quarters without the team’s anchor in the paint. The 7-foot-1 Holmgren is one of the league’s top shot blockers, and he is agile enough to defend guards when he has to switch.

“It changed a lot for us defensively, for sure,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “You guys can probably tell, he does so much on that end of the floor. He cleans up so many things, deters so many things around the rim when he’s not blocking them (shots).”

The Thunder, one of the deepest teams in the league, are suddenly thin in their frontcourt. Holmgren had moved from forward to center because newly-acquired big man Isaiah Hartenstein was out with a fractured left hand. The Thunder were also missing forward/center Jaylin Williams (right hamstring) and guard/forward Kenrich Williams (right knee).

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.