Before Game 1 even tipped off, Chet Holmgren found himself waiting on a routine that usually comes naturally. The Oklahoma City Thunder big man often begins games by tossing the ball in the air as part of his pregame rhythm. This time, Dillon Brooks had other plans.
Brooks held onto the ball and delayed Holmgren’s ritual, setting the tone for another chapter in his long-running reputation as an agitator. The moment stood out, especially considering what followed. Oklahoma City controlled Game 1 from start to finish and rolled past the Phoenix Suns in a 119-84 win.
Holmgren did not escalate the situation. Instead, he explained it with perspective after the game, Sporting News reports.
“I mean I wouldnt hand him the ball either. I didn’t take it personal. He has his persona that he plays, and I think he wanted to give it to his guy, but I still got my touch before the game started,” Holmgren said.
Holmgren Stays Level Amid Brooks’ Antics
Holmgren’s response reflected a level-headed approach that Oklahoma City has leaned on all season. While some players might have reacted emotionally, Holmgren viewed the moment as part of the mental side of the game.
Brooks has built a career on pushing boundaries. Even during a strong 2025-26 regular season, where he averaged 20.2 points per game, flashes of that edge still surfaced. Game 1 brought that side back into focus.
The pregame exchange did not stand alone. Later in the first quarter, Brooks chased a loose ball and struck Holmgren in the face, drawing a Flagrant 1 foul, The Oklahoman reports. The sequence added another layer to an already physical and tense matchup.
Still, Holmgren never lost composure. He completed his routine, stepped on the floor, and let his play speak.
Thunder Dominate Suns From Start to Finish
Once the game began, the Oklahoma City Thunder imposed their will on both ends. Size, pace, and discipline separated them early, and that gap only widened.
Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein controlled the interior. Oklahoma City outscored Phoenix 52-24 in the paint, exposing a frontcourt mismatch that the Suns struggled to solve. Without a true rim presence, Phoenix relied on smaller lineups, and Holmgren took advantage.
He altered shots at the rim, including a chasedown block on Devin Booker in the opening quarter. Moments later, he stretched the floor by knocking down a three-pointer off a long pass to beat the buzzer.
Phoenix attempted to counter by assigning Brooks to guard Holmgren early, but the height difference proved difficult to overcome. Holmgren consistently shot over the defense and dictated the flow near the basket. Easy money.
The Thunder led by double digits for most of the game and never allowed momentum to shift. What started as a minor pregame disruption quickly turned into a one-sided result.
Chet Holmgren’s calm response after the game reinforced a broader theme. Oklahoma City remains focused, even when opponents try to disrupt rhythm or create tension. That approach showed in Game 1, where execution outweighed distractions and set the tone for the series moving forward.
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