Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continued his scoring surge in the young 2025-26 NBA season, notching 30+ points for the third consecutive game. Meanwhile, Chet Holmgren delivered a standout performance by tying his career high for three-pointers in a commanding 117-100 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. The win improved the Thunder’s record to a perfect 3-0.
Holmgren finished the game with an impressive stat line: 31 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including six three-pointers—a mark that matches his career best for most threes made in a single game. He also excelled from the free-throw line, converting 9 of 10 attempts. On the glass, Holmgren grabbed 11 rebounds and contributed defensively with three steals and one block.
Reflecting on his shooting display against the Hawks during his postgame media availability, Holmgren emphasized his focus on making smart decisions rather than relying on “heat checks.” He stated,
“When you see the ball go in a couple of times, you definitely play a lot more loose, and you’re definitely looking for the next opportunity to shoot. But I’m not a big believer in heat checks in terms of taking a bad shot because you hit a couple. I’m still seeking out the right play, looking for good shots, and throughout the game, I felt like I did a good job of trusting that, and after the first couple went in, I was able to find some more.”
Holmgren’s early-season form has been nothing short of spectacular. He is averaging 24.7 points on 56.1% shooting overall, including an impressive 42.1% from beyond the arc. Additionally, he is pulling down 10.0 rebounds per game and averaging 1.7 steals through three games. This level of production is exactly what many expected from the 2022 second overall pick, especially after last season’s limited 32-game campaign. His strong start has even led some analysts to predict Holmgren is on track to earn his first All-Star selection this year.
ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins was notably impressed by Holmgren’s performance during the Thunder’s home opener. Speaking on ESPN’s *NBA Today*, Perkins placed Holmgren in elite company alongside NBA stars like Bucks All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nuggets All-Star Nikola Jokic, and Rockets All-Star Alperen Sengun.
“Sengun, Giannis, Jokic, and rightfully so, but then all of a sudden, Chet Holmgren is the forgotten,” Perkins said. “And then, he reminded us last night in that first half how he went to work. He was deep in his bag like he had waffle fries at the bottom. Inside/out. And when you talk about how unique he is as far as his skillset, that’s why they’re able to mix it up.”
The Thunder will look to extend their winning streak as they close out their three-game road trip against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday. With Holmgren’s continued dominance and Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring consistency, Oklahoma City is quickly establishing itself as a formidable contender in this season’s race.
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-chet-holmgren-ties-career-high-amid-impressive-shooting-hawks
