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Oklahoma City Thunder Roll Past Hawks Behind Holmgren’s Career Night for Their 3rd Win of the Season

Originally posted on Total Apex Sports | By David Desa | Last updated Oct 26, 2025 9:49 AM ET

The Oklahoma City Thunder are playing with house money right now, and they know it.

Saturday night in Atlanta, the Thunder dismantled the Hawks 117-100, pushing their record to a pristine 3-0. But this wasn’t just another win in the early-season grind. This was a statement—a reminder that last year’s magic wasn’t a fluke, and this roster is only getting scarier.

Chet Holmgren put on an absolute clinic, dropping 31 points on a ridiculous 8-of-12 shooting, including a blistering 6-of-8 from downtown. He grabbed 12 boards, swatted a shot, and swiped three steals for good measure. The center looked every bit like the player Thunder fans have been dreaming about since draft night. When you’re knocking down threes like you’re playing 2K and controlling the paint like you own it, you’re going to be tough to stop.

“When you see the ball going in a couple of times, you definitely play a lot more loose,” Holmgren said after the game. “You’re definitely looking for the next opportunity to shoot, but I’m not a big believer in heat checks in terms of taking a bad shot just because I’ve hit a few.”

That’s the kind of maturity you love to see. No wild shots. No ego trips. Just pure, calculated basketball.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Continues His Dominance

If Holmgren was the story, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the exclamation point. SGA chipped in 30 points on an efficient 12-of-17 shooting, including 10-of-11 inside the arc. He added five assists, four rebounds, a steal, and a block—basically, everything you could ask for from your franchise cornerstone.

“The guy with his natural feel, as the games go on and we continue to grow, he’ll continue to grow,” Gilgeous-Alexander said of Holmgren. “We’ve just got to continue to ignite him as teammates, make sure that we’re putting him in positions to be successful, as he does for us.”

At 27 years and 105 days old, SGA now has the fourth-most 30-point games among guards at that age. He’s in elite company, and he’s showing no signs of slowing down. The Thunder lean on him, and he keeps delivering—night after night, game after game.

Oklahoma City Thunder Never Looked Back

The Thunder set the tone early and never let the Hawks breathe. Oklahoma City never trailed in this one. They built a 60-55 halftime lead, then opened the third quarter with an 8-0 run that essentially put the game away. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the Hawks were toast.

Atlanta didn’t help itself by showing up shorthanded. They were missing three starters—Kristaps Porzingis (flu-like symptoms), Zaccharie Risacher (right ankle sprain), and Jalen Johnson (right ankle sprain). Without that firepower, the Hawks struggled to keep pace. Trae Young tried his best, finishing with 15 points and 10 assists, but it wasn’t nearly enough. Nickeil Alexander-Walker led Atlanta with 17 points, but the Thunder’s defense made life miserable for everyone else.

The Oklahoma City Thunder shot 46.2% from the field and 37.8% from three, while the Hawks managed just 41.2% overall. The Thunder dominated the glass 56-53, forced 16 turnovers, and recorded 13 steals. They were the better team in every phase of the game.

A Fun Family Storyline

One of the feel-good moments of the night came courtesy of the Wallace brothers. Thunder guard Cason Wallace faced off against his older brother, Keaton Wallace, who plays for the Hawks. Cason finished with three points, while Keaton had five. It wasn’t a game either will remember statistically, but you know their family was buzzing watching them share the court in the NBA.

Looking Ahead for the Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder are now 3-0, matching their hot start from last season when they rattled off seven straight wins to open the year. That run eventually led to a championship, and this squad looks just as hungry.

Head coach Mark Daigneault praised Holmgren‘s performance after the game, noting his “great game flow.” That flow is exactly what the Thunder need as they continue to build chemistry and push the tempo. With Holmgren and Gilgeous-Alexander leading the charge, this team has the talent and depth to be a problem all season long.

The Oklahoma City Thunder head to Dallas next to face the Mavericks on Monday. A road game against a Western Conference contender. If they can keep this momentum rolling, the rest of the league had better take notice.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are here, and they’re playing like they have something to prove.

This article first appeared on Total Apex Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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