The Thunder secured an impressive win against the Knicks on March 4 mainly due to Chet Holmgren’s brilliance, and the reigning champs now host the Warriors. 

Jalen Williams, Ajay Mitchell, Isaiah Hartenstein, Alex Caruso and Branden Carlson are all out. However, the other side is also shorthanded. Golden State will be without Stephen Curry and Moses Moody, while Kristaps Porzingis, De’Anthony Melton and Will Richard are questionable to play. 

Here are three key matchups to monitor for this injury-riddled contest. 

The former second overall pick is coming off a dominant performance against New York. He contributed 28 points on 11-of-19 shooting from the field, including six triples. Holmgren also grabbed eight rebounds and played stellar defense in high pick-and-rolls. 

Will he replicate this level of impact tonight? The Gonzaga product typically thrives against Golden State. 

He has averaged 0.708 points per minute on 64/43/97 shooting splits across eight career matchups. For context, that’s 21.2 points per 30 minutes. It’s not a fluke, as the Warriors’ frontcourt has lacked size and athleticism for years. The team rarely owns a decent option to throw at Holmgren. Even Draymond Green struggles, as Holmgren has scored 19.6 points per 75 possessions on absurd 93.1% true shooting when defended by the veteran. 

If Oklahoma City receives a strong scoring night from its big man, then it will be difficult for Golden State’s diminished roster to keep pace. The team also needs Holmgren to control the glass with Hartenstein sidelined because denying second-chance points is crucial. 

Creating space off the dribble against the Thunder’s elite defenders will be very tough for a Warriors offense that does not trot out many self-created scorers or ball handlers. As a result, it will often be forced to settle for contested catch-and-shoot jumpers in this matchup. 

The team is no stranger to chucking perimeter shots, as 50.7% of the Warriors’ total field goal attempts this season have come from beyond the arc. That’s the highest three-point attempt rate in the NBA. 

If Golden State is going to bring this game down to the wire, then red-hot perimeter shooting is a must. 

Golden State does not possess ball handlers and playmakers who can dribble through heavy traffic. It subsequently commits turnovers at the fifth-highest rate in the NBA. This does not bode well for the Warriors because the Thunder’s ultra-aggressive defense forces turnovers at the second-highest rate. 

Look for Oklahoma City to apply a ton of ball pressure and really go after steals and deflections. Cason Wallace, in particular, is a name to monitor. He leads the league in steals per game and terrorized New York’s offense a few days ago.