OKC’s starting five will make their season debut in the NBA Cup semifinals

For the first time since Game 7 of the NBA Finals, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Marc Daigneault will have his starting five at full strength ahead of the meeting with the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Cup semi-finals. In time for Victor Wembanyama’s first All-Star game on November 14, Isaiah Hartenstein is cleared to play on Saturday. Hartenstein returned after Jaylen Williams missed the first 19 games of the season due to surgery on his right wrist.

Hartenstein, along with Chet Holmgren as one half of a devastating defensive tandem that should challenge Wembanyama and the Spurs frontcourt. Hartenstein and Holmgren do a great job of clogging the baseline and protecting the rim, forcing opposing players to shoot or miss high-percentage shots.

Offensively, Holmgren can score 20+ points with a combination of his 3-point shooting and relentless rebounding to the rim. Hartenstein, more of a traditional big, can score with his moves in the post or in transition while running the fast break. Both 7-footers are outstanding passers who can really add to the Thunder’s offensive attack, led by reigning MVP and leading scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and efficient shooting.

Oklahoma City has five Thunder players shooting 39% or better from three, including Holmgren (39.5%), Gilgeous-Alexander (45.4%), who leads the team in shooting, and Aaron Wiggins (43.8%). Still, Saturday’s NBA Cup semifinals are a great test for the defending champions.

The Spurs, who made it without Wembanyama, beat the Los Angeles Lakers 132-119 in the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup. Eight Spurs players are averaging double figures, including De’Aaron Fox’s 24.0 points per game, second only to Vembanyama’s 26.2 points per game, and San Antonio’s second-year guard Stephon Castle, who is averaging 18.2 points on 50% shooting, 7.3 rebounds, 1 assist, 6.1 assists and 6.1 points per game.

The Spurs have the sixth-best offensive rating (119.4) in the NBA, just two spots behind the Thunder (121.9).

Thunder’s Chet Holmgren is excited to face Victor Vembanyama

Thunder forward Chet Holmgren is excited to face Victor Vembanyam and the Spurs in the NBA Cup semifinals on Saturday. Vembanjama, who has not played since November 14, was suffering from a strained left calf. He missed the last 12 games, during which the Spurs went 9-3 in his absence. They will now look to hand the Thunder just their second loss of the season.

Holmgren argued why is he happy to find out that Vembanjama will be in uniform for Saturday’s NBA Cup semi-final game against the Spurs.

“We want to play against really good teams that are fully healthy with all of their best players,” Holmgren said. “They’re already a great team, and having him back is only going to make them better. So I’m excited.”

The Spurs have won four of their last five games, including a 132-119 NBA Cup quarterfinal victory over the Wembanyama-less Los Angeles Lakers.

“Spurs are a great young team,” added Holmgren. “They’re hungry. They’re playing right now. Add Victor to that, and it just makes them better. So we’re excited to play them. I’m sure they’re excited to play us, and I think it should be a good game.”

The Thunder and Spurs will face off in Las Vegas on Saturday.