Chet Holmgren of Thunder set to make comeback against Raptors on Friday

The Oklahoma City Thunder will have their star center return to the lineup this week.

Chet Holmgren is off the team’s injury report and expected to make his return to the court Friday when the Thunder host the Toronto Raptors (8 ET, NBA League Pass).

Holmgren sustained a right iliac wing fracture during the first quarter of OKC’s Nov. 10 game against the Golden State Warriors. The West-leading Thunder were 8-2 when Holmgren was sidelined with injury and have improved to 40-9, becoming just the second team to reach 40 wins this season.

Originally, the Thunder said he would return this season and be evaluated in eight to 10 weeks, but was re-evaluated halfway through January and determined that the versatile 7-foot-1 big man would need additional time to recover from a hip fracture. In all, he was out for 12 weeks with the injury.

Selected No. 2 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, Holmgren was the runner-up for Kia Rookie of the Year last season.

Holmgren, 22, is in his second NBA season and is averaging 16.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2.6 blocks per game while playing 26.5 minutes per game.

Even before Holmgren returned, OKC was busy adding to its frontline for the stretch run. The Thunder acquired veteran center Daniel Theis from the New Orleans Pelicans via a trade Wednesday, adding him to a group that will include Holmgren, Jaylin Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein.

Williams and Hartenstein have been playing the bulk of the minutes at center during Holmgren’s absence.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.