The Oklahoma City Thunder have taken control of the Western Conference as the halfway point of the regular season is being neared. They have won 15 straight games and now possess a 30-5 record. That is a seven-game lead over the Houston Rockets, who own the second-best record in the West. One thing that has been certain thus far in the 2024-25 season is if Isaiah Hartenstein is playing for the Thunder, it’s almost a certainty they will win.
That near-certainty continued on Sunday after the Thunder took down the reigning NBA champions.
Almost Near-Certainty Thunder Win When This Player Is In Lineup
Thunder Are 19-1 When Isaiah Hartenstein Plays
Oklahoma City picked up their 30th win of the season with a 105-92 victory over the Boston Celtics on Sunday. Trailing by four entering the fourth quarter, the Thunder outscored Boston 29-12 over the final 12 minutes to secure the win.
While the 26-year-old Hartenstein isn’t someone who is going to score at will, he is a winning player who does a bit of everything. On Sunday, his final line included eight points, 10 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and three blocks. He has played a large role in Oklahoma City’s 15 consecutive wins (yes, they lost in the NBA Cup finals, but that didn’t count towards the standings). That is a new franchise record for consecutive wins, toppling the old mark accomplished by the then-Seattle SuperSonics in 1996.
The 7-foot Hartenstein has appeared in 20 of the Thunder’s first 35 contests. In those 20 outings, Oklahoma City has only lost once. That gives them a .950 winning percentage whenever Hartenstein is in the lineup.
The Thunder’s only loss (in a game that counts) when Hartenstein has played came back on December 1. It took the Rockets outscoring Oklahoma City by eight in the fourth quarter to pick up a three-point win.
After a career-best season with the New York Knicks in 2023-24, the Thunder added Hartenstein in free agency on a three-year deal worth $87 million. What was first seen as an overpay by some, Hartenstein’s deal now looks completely understandable. During the preseason, the seven-year veteran suffered a small, non-displaced fracture in his left hand. The injury forced him to miss Oklahoma City’s first 15 outings in which the team went 11-4.
On the season, Hartenstein has posted averages of 12.0 points, 12.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.4 blocks. Their superb play with him playing is all the more remarkable because it has come without their young phenom.
Doing This While Chet Holmgren Is Unavailable
On November 10, Chet Holmgren sustained a right iliac wing fracture. He has yet to return from the injury for Oklahoma City.
The second overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Holmgren missed the entire 2022-23 season with a foot injury. Last season, the 22-year-old showed the immense value he can provide on both ends of the court. He appeared in all 82 games while finishing as the runner-up for Rookie of the Year behind Victor Wembanyama.
While it’s unclear when he will return, it’s scary to think of Holmgren back with a team that has been so dominant of late. The Thunder will look to continue their winning ways on Wednesday when they take on the Cleveland Cavaliers.
