Oklahoma City’s saving grace has finally arrived.
For the first time this season, Isaiah Hartenstein, the biggest free agent signing in Oklahoma City Thunder history, suited up for his new team and his impact couldn’t have been bigger. Hartenstein did all the dirty work, making his way to a double-double and helping the Thunder break a two-game skid with a 109-99 win over the Portland Trailblazers.
Hartenstein’s 13-14 and four blocks stole the show in OKC. He put the skills that led to the Thunder paying him nearly $30 million per year on full display, out-hustling players for rebounds, setting physical screens and posing a significant threat as a lob-catcher.
Hartenstein will be the toast of the town until further notice, but Jalen Williams, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Alex Caruso played big parts in getting OKC the win as well.
Caruso scored 15 of his 17 points in the first half before leaving with an injury in the second. If Caruso is able to come back soon, an offensive leap would be helpful for an OKC team that has been missing Caruso’s offensive abilities this season.
Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander did what they seem to always do, leading the OKC offense and combining for 58 points against a team that may not be impressive in the win column, but one that has multiple elite rim protectors in Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams III.
The Trailblazers tried to stick Toumani Camara, their best defender and one of the NBA’s more underrated players, on Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams, but to no avail. For what it’s worth, Camara did a great job of making Gilgeous-Alexander uncomfortable and forced him to have a poor night efficiency-wise, but he was no match for Williams whenever they were matched up.
Williams continued ascent is promising for OKC. With an actual center back in the fold, Williams’ ability as a pick-and-roll creator will be on display more than ever and the additional space that Hartenstein’s screens will create for him could lead to an additional uptick in offensive production that we still haven’t seen.
If Williams can continue to prove he is inching closer and closer to superstar territory in the absence of Chet Holmgren, OKC could be set up to challenge Boston as the NBA’s top dog as early as this season. With a superstar version of Williams, the existing version of Gilgeous-Alexander and an ever-evolving version of Holmgren, OKC has one of the most unique big threes in the NBA. Throw in an elite rebounder and rim runner in Hartenstein and you have all the ingredients to make a ready-made championship team.
