Thunder vs. Pistons takeaways: Chet Holmgren wows, but OKC falls in NBA preseason finale

TULSA — Chet Holmgren did a lot of math Thursday.

A lot of adding to the Thunder’s total. A lot of subtracting from the Pistons’ total.

The Thunder rookie, in OKC’s final tune-up before the real games begin, was a problem on both ends of the floor. He only played in the first half of the Thunder’s 118-116 preseason loss to the Pistons at BOK Center in Tulsa, but fans in Green Country got a first-hand look at what all this Holmgren buzz is about.

In one second-quarter sequence, Holmgren splashed a 3-pointer, then, 10 seconds later, Holmgren stuffed Pistons guard Jaden Ivey at the rim. A two-handed stuff, which was Holmgren’s second two-handed swat of the game. The first came against Pistons center Jalen Duren, and both blocks were equally disrespectful.

Holmgren had 10 points, four rebounds and three blocks in his 13 minutes.

“He’s progressed really well,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “It starts with the fact that he worked really hard to get himself back to this point with that rehab, with great discipline. I give him a lot of credit for that, so I’m happy for him, that he’s out there competing again, and that that’s behind him.”

Holmgren is now set for his NBA debut, which will come Wednesday in Chicago.

“I love to hoop, so it’s kind of the same feeling every day,” Holmgren said. “I’m blessed. I get to play basketball and get paid to do it.”

“You get paid a lot,” teammate Jalen Williams deadpanned.

Money well spent if Holmgren keeps adding and subtracting.

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Chet Holmgren, Olivier Sarr start 

The Thunder doubled up on going big by starting Olivier Sarr (6-foot-10) alongside Holmgren (7-foot-1). Jalen Williams, usually the de facto starting power forward, slid to small forward with Josh Giddey and Lu Dort starting in the backcourt.

It was OKC’s regular starting lineup with one exception: Sarr, a center, taking the spot of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (not a center). Gilgeous-Alexander was out with a knee contusion. It’s nothing serious for SGA.

Sarr guarded Isaiah Stewart with Holmgren on Duren.

The Thunder is in the information-gathering phase with Holmgren. Daigneault wants to see what Holmgren looks like both as the lone big on the floor and in a two-big lineup with someone like Sarr or Jaylin Williams.

“Trying to learn what that looks like, what the trade offs are, what the benefits are, and I thought we got good information there tonight,” Daigneault said.

Among the info the Thunder got by going with a double-big lineup is learning how Holmgren looks when he’s not in as many pick-and-roll defensive situations. With Sarr defending the main roller, Holmgren can be weaponized as a weak-side defender.

“That’s how a lot of teams use good rim protectors,” Daigneault said. “Memphis does that with (Jaren) Jackson, (Kevin) Durant’s done that for years. Giannis (Antetokounmpo) does that for Milwaukee. Golden State uses Draymond Green like that.

“There’s a lot of evidence of teams utilizing that. And then we need to get the information with him in the pick-and-roll as well, and then the offensive trade offs of that. If fives have to guard him, that could be a dilemma, but at the same time if smalls are on him we want to see what that looks like and how it impacts the rest of the lineup.”

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Coach speak with Mark Daigneault, Monty Williams

Mark Daigneault and Monty Williams have been seeing a lot of each other. Thursday was the second preseason game between the Thunder and Pistons, and the Pistons will play in OKC on Oct. 30.

Williams is in his first season with the Pistons after being fired by the Suns, where he coached the last four seasons. Daigneault is set to enter his fourth season as Thunder coach.

Williams is going from a championship contender in the Suns to a rebuilding Pistons squad. Meanwhile, Daigneault has guided the Thunder through a rebuild with nothing but sunny skies ahead.

“From the jump, they play extremely competitive, and I don’t mean that in a normal NBA (way),” Williams said of the Thunder. “Just competitive in certain areas — attacking the paint, relentless drives over, and over and over again.”

Williams complimented Daigneault in sticking to his style no matter the talent level on the Thunder’s roster.

“Early on it was a lot of G League guys, and guys who were trying to find their way,” Williams said. “They’re style of play hasn’t changed much.”

Asked about the hallmarks of a Monty Williams-coached team?

“He’s a very detail-oriented coach,” Daigneault said. “And then sharp execution. The word is sharp. His teams are sharp on both ends.”

Williams has a former head coach on his Pistons staff in Stephen Silas, the former Rockets boss. Former NBA guard Jarrett Jack is also on Williams’ staff.

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Thunder tip-ins

• Kenrich Williams, Aleksej Pokusevski and Jaylin Williams remained out with injuries.

• Pistons rookie Ausar Thompson tried to put Holmgren on a poster in the first quarter. The two collided violently at the rim. Thompson missed the dunk but was fouled in the process.

• “Good, Josh, good, Josh,” Daigneault said as Giddey forced Joe Harris into a contested jump shot, which Harris airballed.

• Vasilije Micic is such a crafty passer. He and Giddey are going to compile quite a passing highlight package.

• Detroit guard Cade Cunningham, the former OSU star, had 14 points, six rebounds and six assists in 22 minutes.

• “That was our last one?” Jalen Williams said, unaware that Thursday was the Thunder’s last preseason game.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder falls to Detroit Pistons in NBA preseason finale in Tulsa