Chet Holmgren says NBA Finals Game 2 is must-win for Thunder
Chet Holmgren says NBA Finals Game 2 is must-win for Thunder
Entering as a heavy favorite, the Oklahoma City Thunder were sucker-punched in Game 1. They played with fire the entire game and Tyrese Haliburton finally burned their hand with 0.3 seconds left after he drained a game-winner to steal a 1-0 series lead.
The 2025 NBA Finals have started with a classic. Take that for those concerned with TV ratings. The Thunder now enter with a high-stakes Game 2. They can't go down 0-2 traveling on the road or risk being on the wrong side of one of the biggest upsets.
If the Thunder bounce back in Game 2, Chet Holmgren will need to be better. He was invisible in Game 1 with just six points and six rebounds. That performance resulted in him barely seeing the floor in the fourth quarter as the game evolved into crunch time.
Two days later, Holmgren called Game 2 a must-win scenario. But with the interesting caveat that he's felt that way throughout the entire playoffs. Which is true from a vibes sense. The highs and lows of a postseason result in fans feeling like they're on the doorstep of a championship or at risk of a doomsday scenario.
"I wouldn't say it's any different than Game 1. Game 1 was a must-win and we didn't win. Now we flip to Game 2 and it's a must-win again," Holmgren said. "We've been in must-win situations in this playoff run, and honestly in the playoffs, every game feels like a must-win. You're not saving anything in the tank for any games down the line. You kinda have to lay it all out there."
Despite the loss, you should feel confident about the Thunder's Game 2. They've only lost two in a row once this season. Holmgren has gained a reputation for bouncing back after a flat outing. If the seven-footer can return to being a two-way threat, the NBA Finals should be tied at 1-1.
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