Mark Daigneault is confident Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams can bounce back after a disappointing start to the NBA Finals for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The pair were 2022 lottery picks for the Thunder, but they combined for just 23 points on 8-of-28 shooting in Oklahoma City’s 111-110 Game 1 loss to the Indiana Pacers.

Williams averaged 20.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists during the Western Conference playoffs, despite somewhat of a shooting slump over a three-game span in the semi-finals.

In the finals, he averaged 22.2 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves and scored a career-playoff-high 34 points in Game 4.

Holmgren, meanwhile, averaged 16.4 points and 8.6 rebounds in the playoffs, but only managed six points in Game 1 against the Pacers in just 24 minutes.

"Usually delivering in the Finals is not on the curriculum for third-year players, and they have thrust themselves into that situation, which is a credit to them," Daigneault said after Saturday's practice.

Stage is set for Sunday pic.twitter.com/CLpXxLkWf2

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) June 8, 2025

"Now that they are here, they have to continue to do what they have done all the way through the playoffs, which is go out there, fully compete, learn the lessons and apply it forward.

"And they have done a great job of that. I think you've seen that over the course of the playoffs. They haven't always played their best game, but they always get themselves ready to play the next one."

Despite the pressure now being on Oklahoma as they try to level the series at home on Sunday, Williams enjoys what that adds to his game.

"I try and think of myself as somebody that's very uncommon," said Williams. "I don't ever think that I'm in my third year because then that allows me to make excuses. I should just go out there and play.

"Pressure is a privilege. So, I enjoy being counted on and doing that, and I just think I've been counted on since, I feel like, last year, to be totally honest, just in regard to being there for the rest of the guys. And now we're here in the Finals. So, I don't really see it that much different."