The Kings can’t resist Isaiah Hartenstein’s career high

After conceding their first loss of the season against the Blazers, the Thunder head to Sacramento to begin their NBA Cup run. If the Kings are cut Domantas Sabonisit is its replacement inside, Drew Eubankswhich comes first. The former Clippers scored Sacramento’s first six points, but the Thunder went on a 10-0 run to take an 11th lead (22-11). Run stopped by a 3-point shot from Russell Westbrook (24 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists) who made three of his first four attempts from behind the arc to bring his team within one point and force Marc Dano to take a timeout.

Immediately after this break in the game, Malik Monk again gives the advantage to Sacramento thanks to a long-range arrow and the Kings’ lead after the first 12 minutes of the game (32-30). However, in the second act the trend reverses. If Doug Christie’s Players continues to be very adept from long range (11/22 on 3-pointers in the half), OKC finds an answer inside thanks to Isaiah Hartenstein (33 points, 19 rebounds on 14/17 shooting) who had 20 points and 10 rebounds when he entered the locker room.

Kings powerless in the second half

After their inside, the Thunder re-create the deficit and lead 70 to 56 at halftime.

On the restart, the Kings still couldn’t stop Isaiah Hartenstein on offense, never regaining the long-range prowess that allowed them to match Oklahoma City early in the game. Consequently, Sacramento could not catch up and from the beginning of the last act, the Californians were victims of a 6-0 run by the duo of Chet Holmgren – Isaiah Hartenstein allowing OKC to take a 20 point lead.

The series that sealed the fate of the match despite the first points of the evening for the Frenchman Maxime Raynaud (8 points, 10 rebounds on 3/10 shooting). Sacramento ended up losing 132-101, while the Thunder tasted victory, winning nine of their first ten games to start the season.

WHAT TO REMEMBER

– Isaiah Hartenstein unstoppable inside. Facing Drew Eubanks, Isaiah Hartenstein easily dominated. Already in the double-double at halftime, the former Knicks player continued after the break and allowed his team to take the lead as the minute ticked away. Pivot finished the night with 33 points, his career highand 19 rebounds on 14/17 shooting. That’s how it becomes the first Thunder player to make a tackle with 30 points and 15 rebounds on more than 75% shooting success.

– The Kings’ 3-point prowess didn’t last the entire game. Early in the game, the Kings had the hot hand on 3-pointers, which even allowed them to take the lead midway through the first quarter. Although they shot 50% from distance at halftime, they failed to adjust their aim after the break, making only 4 of 18 attempts from behind the arc in the second half. Because of this lack of skill, as well as an interior sector without a solution against Isaiah Hartenstein, Sacramento sank during the minutes and accumulated points behind without being able to recover.

– Maxime Reynaud appears, despite some awkwardness. The absence of Domantas Sabonis benefits Maxime Raynaud, who can get more minutes. Against the Thunder, he played just over 23 minutes and if he was able to show rebounds with his 10 catches, skill was more complicated. Against OKC’s good defense, the Frenchman finished with eight points on 3/10 shooting.

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How to read statistics? Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / 3 points in an attempt; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive jump; T = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Difference of points when the player is on the field; Points = Points; Rating: player rating calculated based on positive actions – negative actions.