Chet Holmgren is day-to-day with a rest issue and will not play in the Thunder's preseason opener against the Pelicans on Tuesday. Oklahoma City will be without its starting big man for that game, with an expected return of Oct. 7 listed on the injury report.
What happened
The Thunder listed Holmgren as day-to-day on Monday at 2:02 p.m. ET, with the issue logged as rest. He had not appeared on a previous report. Clemente Almanza of USA Today reports that Holmgren will not play in Tuesday's preseason opener against New Orleans. The report lists an expected return of Oct. 7, one day after the game he will miss. No additional detail on the nature of the rest period was given beyond the "Rest · Other" designation.
What it means for the Thunder
Oklahoma City faces New Orleans on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET in its preseason opener, and it will be without Holmgren for that game. Last season Holmgren averaged 17.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 28.9 minutes across 69 games, production the Thunder lose at both forward and center spots while he sits. Isaiah Hartenstein, who played 24.2 minutes and scored 9.2 points per game in Oklahoma City's rotation last season, is the frontcourt option positioned to pick up minutes in Holmgren's absence. The Thunder have not played a regular-season game yet, so there is no record to compare with and without him this season.
What to watch
The next injury report will show whether Holmgren's rest day extends beyond Tuesday's game against New Orleans. An expected return of Oct. 7 is listed, which would put him available for the Thunder's next game after the Pelicans matchup. No further timeline or diagnosis beyond that date has been announced, so his status should be confirmed on the next report before Oklahoma City's following game.
Is Chet Holmgren playing vs Pelicans?
No. Holmgren is day-to-day with a rest issue and is not expected to play in Tuesday's preseason opener against New Orleans.
When will Chet Holmgren be back?
An expected return of Oct. 7 is listed on the injury report, though Oklahoma City has not announced further detail beyond that date.