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OKC Thunder star breaks pelvic bone

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(This article has been updated with new information.)

With a fateful crash, Chet Holmgren’s promising young season was turned upside down.

The Thunder big man suffered a fractured right iliac wing in a 127-116 loss to the Thunder on Sunday night warriorthe team announced early Monday morning. He is expected to return this season and a return to play protocol will be in place in eight to 10 weeks.

About a few minutes into Sunday’s game, Holmgren fell on his hip after attempting to challenge Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins vertically. The 22-year-old remained on the ground and was eventually tackled by trainers before being helped to the locker room.

Holmgren, who refused to put any weight on his right leg, did not return to the game.

“I can’t say if I’m better or worse after going through something similar before,” Holmgren wrote on Twitter early Monday morning. “On the one hand, I know how to deal with it, I know what to do and what not to do and how beautiful the other side is. But then again, I have felt the frustration of this process and the wear and tear it brings on your mind. What hurts me the most. I can’t help my teammates and play for our fans and supporters for a while.

At the start of Sunday, the 6-foot-2 center staked his claim as one of the youngest All-Stars in the Western Conference. In nine games, he averaged 18.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.9 blocks, the second-best marks in the NBA.

As a sophomore, Holmgren anchored the league’s top-rated defense.

With Holmgren expected to miss games through at least January, the Thunder will be without a center for the coming weeks. Isaiah Hartenstein, who was sidelined with a broken hand, is expected to return to OKC toward the end of November.

“Everyone sticking with me and our team, along with my need for hoops, is a big part of my passion to return,” Holmgren continued on Twitter. “Don’t feel sorry for me or feel bad, there are a lot of people out there who have real problems that won’t heal. Anyway, sorry if my rambling was intended only to address our OKC fans and family. Thoughts from the hospital bed.”

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