Isaiah Hartenstein added to the Thunder’s injury report against the Cavs

Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein appeared on the injury report for Thursday’s game against the Cleveland Cavs after the team announced that the veteran has a left calf strain injury. Hartenstein was injured in the 118-102 win against the Philadelphia 76ers and will be out for the foreseeable future. The The Thunder will face the Cleveland Cavs in the Pejko Center in a rematch from last week’s defeat.

The Cavs snapped Oklahoma City’s franchise record 15-game winning streak at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The Thunder will try to avenge that loss without Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren, who has missed the last 29 games with a fractured pelvis.

“Isaiah Hartenstein suffered a left hamstring strain in last night’s game against the 76ers. “He will be re-evaluated in about a week,” Thunder PR said.

With Isaiah Hartenstein out with an injury, the Thunder could return to the small-ball approach that head coach Mark Daigneault resorted to in a short series of games between Holmgren and Hartenstein who returned earlier in the season. Before Hartenstein made his Thunder debut, Jaylen Williams started at center with help off the bench. However, with Jalen readily available, we could see an increase in his playing time instead of Jalen making a shift.

After a 108-93 loss to the Indiana Pacers, the Cavs bounced back with a 127-117 win on Tuesday in Indiana. Cleveland enters the Paycom Center having won 13 of its last 14 games.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made it 40 games for the MVP after the Thunder’s win

Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander doesn’t consider himself an MVP campaign 2024-25. At least not yet. It’s still too early for him to claim league MVP honors, but if he maintains the level of play he’s maintained through 39 games, he’ll take the league’s top honor with pride.

Gilgeous-Alexander discussed this year’s MVP award after the Thunder’s win against the 76ers.

“MVPs are never won after 40 games,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “40 more of these, and yes, of course.”

As for being considered one of the NBA’s greats, Gilgeous-Alexander says he’s one championship away from entering the conversation. For him, that illustrious mark is reserved for champions.

“For me, you have to win.” Until I do that, I don’t put myself in the stratosphere of those guys,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I can’t because I haven’t won on the biggest stage in the world.” I just haven’t done it yet, and until then I don’t think I should be in those conversations.”

In the midst of the Thunder’s most dominant season in more than a decade, Gilgeous-Alexander could enter the conversation between now and the foreseeable future.