In opposition to Philadelphia on Tuesday night time, Thunder middle Isaiah Hartenstein suffered a minor leg damage, straining his left soleus, per an Oklahoma Metropolis press assertion.
The Thunder reveal that the 7-footer shall be reassessed in every week.
With Chet Holmgren out for a lot of the 2024-25 season because of a hip fracture, Hartenstein has been serving because the 33-6 Thunder’s beginning middle. He’s averaging a career-best 11.8 factors, 12.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.3 blocks, together with 0.9 steals an evening, throughout his 24 wholesome bouts.
In that 118-102 Thunder blowout on Tuesday, Hartenstein scored 9 factors on 4-of-7 taking pictures from the ground and 1-of-2 taking pictures from the foul line. He additionally pulled down a formidable 16 boards, dished out three dimes, blocked one shot and swiped a steal.
Hartenstein was poached in free company following a formidable exhibiting with New York in 2023-24. The Thunder inked him to a profitable three-year, $88M deal, bolstering their frontcourt with a key veteran presence. Now, Oklahoma Metropolis has emerged as maybe the category of the Western Convention, led by perennial MVP contender Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and rising star ahead Jalen Williams.
A gentle two-way presence within the inside, the 26-year-old Hartenstein has been a crucial element to the membership’s early success.
With Hartenstein and Holmgren each out for no less than the subsequent week, the 6-foot-5 Williams might want to step up defensively inside. He’ll doubtless leap at middle for the Thunder.
