The Oklahoma City Thunder may be forced to take the floor Wednesday night against the Detroit Pistons without starting C Chet Holmgren.
The 7-footer is dealing with back spasms heading into tonight's contest and is officially listed as doubtful as the Thunder are road underdogs vs. the Pistons.
With the Thunder looking to stay atop the Western Conference, it may be tough sledding tonight with a crowded injury report that includes MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (out), Jalen Williams (out), and Isaiah Hartenstein (out) — in addition to Holmgren.
Let’s dive into the latest Chet Holmgren injury update and the rest of the Thunder injury report vs. the Pistons, plus how it could impact PrizePicks NBA picks for Wednesday's Thunder vs. Pistons game at 7:30 p.m. ET.
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Chet Holmgren Injury Update vs. Pistons Tonight
Holmgren is officially listed as doubtful tonight vs. the Pistons with back spasms after playing 30 minutes vs. the Raptors. The Thunder will be short-handed on the back-to-back vs. the Pistons, who have the best record in the East.
Through the games he's appeared in this season, Holmgren has been Oklahoma City's defensive anchor and playmaker in the paint. His size, shot-blocking instincts (1.9 BPG), and ability to stretch the floor as a seven-footer make him a key part of head coach Mark Daigneault's system.
With Holmgren doubtful and C Isaiah Hartenstein out, OKC will face a tough test against a Pistons squad that is fully healthy aside from Isaiah Stewart’s suspension. The Thunder will either have to go small, with 6'9" Jaylin Williams at the five against Jalen Duren down low.
As of the publishing of this article, the Thunder return a 3.84x payout if it wins on PrizePicks Team Picks for tonight's matchup against the Pistons.
Chet Holmgren Injury Impact: Which Thunder Players to Target?
With Holmgren doubtful and Hartenstein already ruled out tonight, Oklahoma City's front-court depth is being stretched to its limits against Detroit.
Add in the doubtful tag on G Alex Caruso alongside the injuries to stars G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and F Jalen Williams, and this Thunder roster is significantly shorthanded.
That's why the Pistons have moved up to 10.5-favorites on PrizePicks Team Picks tonight.
The injuries open the door for perimeter players to absorb a heavier offensive load — and Isaiah Joe and Luguentz Dort stand out as the most compelling beneficiaries.
Joe has quietly carved out a legitimate role in OKC's rotation this season, coming off an outing where he scored 22 points (7-14 FG, 6-11 3Pt, 2-2 FT) to go along with 3 assists, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals over 33 minutes.
He is averaging 11.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 44.5% from the field. Joe is projected for 15 points on PrizePicks Player Picks — the highest projected scorer for the Thunder.
Dort, meanwhile, brings a different dimension entirely. The Thunder's gritty defensive stopper is averaging 8.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 0.9 steals per game this season.
He stepped up in the Thunder’s win last night over Toronto, scoring 15 points while adding 5 rebounds and 3 assists.
Given the circumstances, both Joe and Dort project for expanded minutes and increased opportunity on Wednesday.
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Lu Dort vs. Pistons Projection, Picks vs. Pistons
Here are some top Lu Dort projections vs. the Pistons tonight, via PrizePicks.
- 10.5 Points
- 4 Rebounds
- 1.5 Assists
- 16.5 Pts + Rebs + Asts
- 21.5 Fantasy Score
Make Thunder vs. Pistons Picks on PrizePicks
As Thunder vs. Pistons tip-off approaches tonight, the Thunder will have to go deep into their bench to stay competitive against a healthy Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons squad.
You can make your Thunder vs. Pistons picks on PrizePicks, earning real money if you’re right. Just pick at least two players and predict More or Less on their projected stats.
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