Hartenstein Shines as Thunder Dominate Kings
Isaiah Hartenstein scored a career-high 33 points and grabbed 19 rebounds to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 132-101 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Friday night.
Outstanding Performance
The 7-foot center was highly efficient, making 14 of 17 shots, along with contributing three assists and three blocks.
Supporting Contributions
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 30 points, helping the Thunder (9-1) recover quickly after their only loss of the season against Portland two nights earlier.
- Cason Wallace scored 15 points, and Isaiah Joe contributed 13 points in the Thunder's first NBA Cup tournament win.
Game Dynamics
Oklahoma City led by 23 points and dominated the paint, outscoring Sacramento 60-34. This advantage was partly due to the absence of Sacramento's Domantas Sabonis, who missed his second straight game with sore ribs.
“Sabonis sat out his second consecutive game with sore ribs.”
Notable Performances from Sacramento
Russell Westbrook, a former Thunder star and the franchise's all-time leading scorer, delivered 24 points and nine assists against his previous team.
Previous Meeting Context
The Thunder defeated the Kings for the second time in 11 days, having won 107-101 in Oklahoma City earlier this October. In that encounter, the Kings had a healthy Sabonis, while the Thunder were without Chet Holmgren.
“Sabonis watched from the bench in street clothes while Holmgren had 10 points and seven rebounds.”
Summary
The matchup showcased a reversal of fortunes: this time Sabonis was absent, and Holmgren contributed notable stats for the Thunder.
Author's Conclusion
Hartenstein's career-best game and the Thunder's dominance in the paint secured a commanding win, further establishing their strong start to the season.