Isaiah Hartenstein had a strong start to the season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, contributing to their 109-99 win against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday evening. After coming back from a hand fracture suffered in the preseason, the ex-New York Knicks player demonstrated his worth by recording a double-double in the key.
Hartenstein Dominates the Paint
Hartenstein tallied 13 points, secured 14 rebounds, and had four blocks in a 29-minute game. With Chet Holmgren out for a few weeks, his appearance on the court provided the Thunder with crucial rim defense and rebounding power. The Thunder, who had been having difficulties with rebounding, almost equaled the Blazers in grabbing boards, showing Hartenstein’s quick impact.
Thunder Snap Losing Streak
Jalen Williams was the top scorer for the Thunder with 30 points. Moreover, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander also had a strong showing with 28 points. Particularly impressing with his flawless 14-for-14 performance from the free-throw line. Alex Caruso contributed 17 points as a reserve, aiding in Oklahoma City’s bench outscoring Portland’s 44-31. The Thunder secured the victory by outscoring their opponents 39-30 in the final quarter.
Trail Blazers Struggle with Turnovers
Portland’s scoring was led by Shaedon Sharpe with 21 points, with Toumani Camara and Jerami Grant also contributing 14 points each. Nevertheless, the Thunder capitalized on the Blazers’ 24 turnovers by turning them into 28 points, resulting in a costly outcome. Oklahoma City had control in the paint as well, outscoring Portland 56-32 in that particular zone.
Looking Ahead
The Thunder’s win signaled the conclusion of a two-game losing streak, highlighting Hartenstein’s importance as a key player in the team’s lineup. Oklahoma City will travel to Sacramento to play the Kings on Monday. Furthermore, while Portland will go to Houston for their upcoming game.
First appearance of Isaiah Hartenstein underlined his significance as the Oklahoma City Thunder strive to boost their playoff chances in a tough Western Conference.
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