'Special talent' Chet Holmgren proves his worth in OKC's Game 1 win

The box score would suggest that Julius Randle (28 points, eight rebounds, one assist) won his matchup against Chet Holmgren (15 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two blocks) in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday.

Those who watched the game know better.

Holmgren shot 4-of-4 when guarded by Randle and made a series of key plays in the second half that swung the momentum in OKC's favor. In the fourth quarter, he was a man on a mission, tallying nine points, two blocks and a steal within a five-minute stretch that completely closed the lid on the Timberwolves' comeback attempt. 

Although Randle scored 20 first-half points, he was a -20 in the second period while managing just five shot attempts against Holmgren and Co.'s swarming defense. Furthermore, 15 of Randle's first-half points came from three, which was rather uncharacteristic. As such, the Thunder stayed patient and waited for him to cool off, which he did.

Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gave Holmgren his flowers for answering the call in the biggest game of his young career.

"Chet was great," SGA said. "When he's the best version of himself, we're the best version of ourselves as a unit. It's no surprise that he affects the game at such a high level. From the moment he was on this basketball team, our win column went up, and it's no surprise. He affects the game every night, every possession at a high level."

Further to SGA's point, OKC truly ascended only after Holmgren arrived, winning 57 and 68 games over the last two years. With the 7-footer in the lineup, it is 83-31 in the regular season and 9-5 in the playoffs. 

The Gonzaga product is a winner, and his teammates know it.

SGA thanked Holmgren for checking his ego and integrating himself into the Thunder's culture from the moment he arrived in the NBA. To that end, Holmgren, a No. 2 overall pick, came in with a lot of hype after drawing comparisons with Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Durant for his ability to shoot from all three levels for a 7-footer. 

Rather than demanding 15-20 shots a game, which a player of his caliber is entitled to, Holmgren has been a consummate professional, contributing in numerous ways to help establish a winning culture.