Tag Archives: Isaiah Hartenstein

Orlando Magic vs. Thunder preview (Game 51 of 82)

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  • Orlando Magic (25-23, 8th in the East) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (39-11, 1st in the West)
  • When: Tuesday, 03 February 2026 at 7:00pm CST
  • Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
  • TV: FDSN-OK
  • Offensive Rating: ORL: 113.9 (16th) / OKC: 117.9 (4th)
  • Defensive Rating: ORL: 114.3 (15th) / OKC: 105.8 (1st)
  • Net Rating: ORL: -0.4 (17th) / OKC: 12.1 (1st)
  • Current Streaks: ORL: 2-5 in their last 7 games / OKC: 2-3 in their last 5 games

The Set-Up

The days prior to the trade deadline are always filled with equal parts angst, curiosity, and hope. The Oklahoma City Thunder find themselves in a position where they have multiple options. Their most tradeable piece is Ousmane Dieng and his $6.7 million dollar expiring deal. While Lu Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Kenrich Williams also have possible expiring contracts, their importance to this team makes trading them in-season kind of difficult. But this could also be the Thunder’s last opportunity to acquire anything of value before any big deal would need to possibly involve one of the core three. Buckle up…we have two games and a trade deadline in the next three days. Could be fun…or nerve-wracking…or quizzical…or boring.

This is the first of two meetings this season between the Thunder and Magic. Oklahoma City has won that last 4 meetings against Orlando dating back to the 2023-24 season.

Betting Info, presented by FanDuel

  • Line: OKC -7
  • O/U: 219.5

Injury Report

OKC

  • Alex Caruso – Questionable (adductor strain)
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Questionable (finger)
  • Isaiah Hartenstein – Questionable (calf)
  • Chet Holmgren – Questionable (back)
  • Ajay Mitchell – OUT (abdominal strain)
  • Thomas Sorber – OFS (knee/ACL)
  • Nikola Topic – OUT (cancer treatment)
  • Jalen Williams – OUT (hamstring)
  • Jaylin Williams – Questionable (shoulder)

ORL

  • Colin Castleton – OUT (thumb)
  • Franz Wagner – OUT (ankle)

Three Big Things

  1. Orlando’s lack of shooting – While the Desmond Bane trade went a long way to provide Orlando with a reliable three-point threat, the Magic, as a collective, still lack consistent outside shooting. They rank 25th in 3-point attempts and 3-point makes and rank 27th in 3-point percentage at 34.3%. In addition, they are also bottom 10 in the same categories for total FG’s made, attempted, and percentage. This plays into the Thunder’s defensive ethos of protecting the paint and running out to shooters on the perimeter.
  2. Sacrificial Game – This may be a sacrificial game for the Thunder. It’s the first night of a home/road back to back. The players who have played most of the season are likely tired and suffering from general soreness (shoutout Jimmy Butler). And the players who have come back from injury recently, such as Isaiah Hartenstein, likely can only play in one of the two back to back games. With that said, the Thunder are 2-0 in games in which Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sits out this season.
  3. Win the turnover battle – Both OKC and Orlando do a good job of, not only protecting the ball (#2 and #7, respectively), but also, getting back on defense when they turn the ball over (OKC is 2nd and ORL is 4th in Opponent Points off Turnovers). Whoever wins the turnover battle, likely has an advantage in how this game goes.

 

 

Thunder @ Houston Rockets preview (Game 42 of 82)

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  • Oklahoma City Thunder (34-7, 1st in the West) @ Houston Rockets (23-14, 6th in the West)
  • When: Thursday, 15 January 2026 at 6:30pm CST
  • Where: Toyota Center, Houston, TX
  • TV: Prime Video / FDSN-OK
  • Offensive Rating: HOU: 120.0 (3rd) / OKC: 118.2 (5th)
  • Defensive Rating: HOU: 112.7 (9th) / OKC: 105.4 (1st)
  • Net Rating: HOU: 7.3 (2nd) / OKC: 12.8 (1st)
  • Current Streaks: HOU: 2-4 in their last 6 / OKC: 4 straight wins, 8-2 in last 10

The Set-Up

The second half of the season begins the same way the first half of the season did…against the Houston Rockets. After a 24-1 start to the season, the Thunder stumbled a bit in December, specifically against the San Antonio Spurs, and hit a bit of a funk. Fatigue, injuries, and the unrelenting nature of the schedule in late December and January all played a part in tiring the Thunder and making them look, dare I say, vulnerable. At the half-way point, OKC finds themselves at 34-7. The Thunder are the top team in Defensive Rating, Net Rating, Field Goals Made, Turnover Percentage (giving up the least amount of turnovers), Opponent Turnover Percentage (forcing the most turnovers), Points off Turnovers, Opponent 2nd Chance Points, Opponent Fastbreak Points, and Opponent Points in the Paint. They are 2nd in Points Per Game, Turnovers Per Game (limiting turnovers), and Opponent Effective FG% (opponents shoot 2nd worst against OKC). Ironically, for all the discourse in the NBA zeitgeist, the Thunder rank 14th in Free Throw Attempts per game.

This is the 2nd of 3 meetings this season between the Rockets and Thunder. The first game was a memorable, double-OT affair that opened up the 2025-26 NBA season. In that game, OKC won 125-124, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander putting up 35 points and Chet Holmgren adding in 28 points.

Betting Info, presented by FanDuel

  • Line: OKC -4.5
  • O/U: 222.5

Injury Report

OKC

  • Lu Dort – Questionable (foot)
  • Isaiah Hartenstein – OUT (calf)
  • Thomas Sorber – OFS (knee/ACL)
  • Nikola Topic – OUT (cancer treatment)

HOU

  • Tari Eason – OUT (ankle)
  • Dorian Finney-Smith – OUT (ankle)
  • Fred VanVleet – OFS (knee/ACL)

Three Big Things

  1. Rebounding and 2nd Chance Points – The Houston Rockets are dominant on the glass this season. They rank first in Offensive Rebounds per game at 16.4, nearly 3 whole rebounds more than the 2nd place team. They also lead the league in rebounds per game at 49.1. They are also first in Offensive Rebound percentage and Rebound percentage. Due to this, they are also first in the league at 2nd Chance Points per game at 18.6. The Thunder, themselves, haven’t been slouches on the glass, ranking 5th in Defensive Rebounds per game and also being the best team at defending 2nd Chance Points per game. With that said, when you point to a weakness on the Thunder, securing those offensive rebounds, especially at critical points in the game, has been an issue. The absence of Isaiah Hartenstein (and Jaylin Williams, until he returned a couple of games ago) over the past month, has had an effect on how well the Thunder have been able to rebound the ball. A positive from this, though, is that since Jan. 29th, Chet Holmgren ranks 6th in the league with 10.1 rebounds per game.
  2. Β Pace – While players like Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun are great in the half-court, Houston, as a team, ranks 28th in Pace. They don’t get out and run as much as most “young” teams do. In addition, they are the 6th worst team in coughing up the ball, giving it up at a clip of 15.6 turnovers per game. If Oklahoma City is able to generate turnovers, like they usually do, and get out in transition, like they usually do, this will play greatly in their favor and may be able to offset any advantage Houston has on the boards.
  3. Packing the Paint – While the Rockets have a top-3 offense in the league, their offensive style of play plays right into what the Thunder like to do defensively. Houston is 29th in 3-point attempts and 25th in 3-point makes. They are 3rd in percentage of points scored from 2-point range, 2nd in percentage of points scored in the mid-range, and 8th in percentage of point scored in the paint. Conversely, OKC is the best team at defending points in the paint and have a defensive ethos of defending from the paint out.

Thunder @ Memphis Grizzlies preview (Game 39 of 82)

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  • Oklahoma City Thunder (31-7, 1st in the West) @ Memphis Grizzlies (16-21, 10th in the West)
  • When: Friday, 09 January 2026 at 7:00pm CST
  • Where: FedEx Forum, Memphis, TN
  • TV: NBATV & FDSN-OK
  • Offensive Rating: MEM: 112.4 (24th) / OKC: 118.0 (5th)
  • Defensive Rating: MEM: 114.0 (14th) / OKC: 105.0 (1st)
  • Net Rating: MEM: -1.6 (18th) / OKC: 13.0 (1st)
  • Current Streaks: MEM: 1-5 in their last 6 / OKC: 5-2 in their last 7

The Set-Up

A win is a win, right? While the way it played out may not have been what we wanted, the Thunder eventually outlasted the Jazz in overtime and won a close game. It was almost like you didn’t know how to feel about the win. Like, yeah, you won. But it was almost foreign. Jalen Williams said it best, after the Jazz game: “This is going to sound cocky, but the last 3 years we won so much that when we have a normal human stretch of losing a game or 2 that we shouldn’t have, the world freaks out.” That’s probably one of the best ways to frame it. The bar has been set so high by the Thunder that when they lose to inferior opponents or when they win a close game to a “tanking team”, the entire fanbase loses their collective shit. In addition, the team is dealing with variables that they haven’t dealt with in the past. A shortened offseason, constant injuries to key rotation pieces, a crappy schedule (again), and dealing with being every team’s SuperBowl every night. That takes a toll and I think we are seeing it now. But like any great team, it’s on OKC to weather the storm and come out prepared for those games of consequence in April, May, and hopefully, June.

This is the third and final meeting of the season between the Thunder and Grizzlies. OKC has won the first two meetings this season by an average of 15 points. Dating back to December 2022, the Thunder have won 15 straight meetings against the Grizzlies, to include the playoffs.

Betting Info, presented by FanDuel

  • Line: OKC -5.5
  • O/U: 230.5

Injury Report

OKC

  • Alex Caruso – Questionable (back)
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – OUT (ankle)
  • Isaiah Hartenstein – OUT (calf)
  • Chet Holmgren – OUT (shin)
  • Thomas Sorber – OFS (knee/ACL)
  • Nikola Topic – OUT (cancer treatment)
  • Cason Wallace – OUT (toe)
  • Jaylin Williams – OUT (heel)

MEM

  • Brandon Clarke – OUT (calf)
  • Cedric Coward – Questionable (ankle)
  • Zach Edey – OUT (ankle)
  • Ty Jerome – OUT (calf)
  • John Konchar – Doubtful (thumb)
  • Ja Morant – OUT (calf)
  • Scotty Pippen Jr – OUT (toe)
  • Vince Williams Jr – Questionable (knee)

Three Big Things

  1. Rebounding – With Isaiah Hartenstein missing the last few weeks, rebounding has been a big issue with the Thunder. Chet Holmgren tries to do what he can, as he has been averaging 8.8 rebounds since Dec. 18th, but the lack of size and physicality on the front line has put the Thunder in precarious positions in close games. The Grizzlies come into this game as one of the best rebounding teams in the league, ranking No. 3 in total rebounds (46.3 per game) and No. 7 in Rebound Percentage. The Grizzlies may be without Zach Edey in this game, but Jaren Jackson Jr, Santi Aldama, and Jock Landale all average above or close to 6 rebounds a game, with Landale racking up nearly 3 rebounds on the offensive end.
  2. Powering through injuries – With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren both being out for the Thunder, the onus of scoring will likely fall on Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell. But whether we win or lose may rest upon the so-called “others”. Part of the reason why we were able to sustain and win during this stretch last season was because Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe got hot for about a 1-2 month stretch (from January to March). A performance like that will likely be necessary for the Thunder to win a game like this one.
  3. Cam Spencer – Yes, Cam frickin’ Spencer. I can’t believe one of my points of emphasis is Cam Spencer. For some reason, we always get cooked by shorter, seemingly unathletic, point guards. Guys like, oh, I don’t know, Pat Spencer, TJ McConnell, Jose Alvarado, etc. But there always comes a point in the game, especially if it’s close, where the Thunder clamped down, don’t bite on the cute little fakes, and eventually make players like that a liability for the opponent. But if you are missing the bulk of your good defensive players and your interior defensive anchor is out, then this may be a game where a guy like Spencer could show out.

San Antonio Spurs vs. Thunder preview (Game 26 of 82, NBA Cup Semifinals)

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  • San Antonio Spurs (17-7, 5th in the West) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (24-1, 1st in the West)
  • When: Saturday, 13 December 2025 at 8:00pm CST
  • Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV
  • TV: Prime Video
  • Offensive Rating: SAS: 118.6 (6th) / OKC: 120.5 (5th)
  • Defensive Rating: SAS: 114.4 (16th) / OKC: 103.3 (1st)
  • Net Rating: SAS: 4.2 (8th) / OKC: 17.2 (1st)
  • Current Streaks: SAS: Winners of 9 of their last 12 / OKC: Winners of 16 in a row

The Set-Up

The one thing missing from the Thunder’s trophy case last season was an NBA Cup title. It was the first test for the team that eventually became the champs and they were thoroughly out-physical’ed and outplayed. And it was probably the best thing for this team moving forward. It gave them a blueprint for what to expect heading into that postseason and what to expect moving forward as a championship contender. But this year, they know what to expect. They are the more physical team, usually. They know how to win in my ways: ugly, muddy, free-throw contest, physical, track meet, etc. The Thunder know how to win in any manner and that’s likely due to losing in the NBA Cup Final last season.

This is the first of five meetings this season between what many see as future championship-contending rivals. The rebuild hibernation seems to be over for the Spurs and they are now letting their young players spread their wings and see how far they can go. The Thunder went 2-1 last season against the Spurs, with their only loss being, ironically, in group play forΒ  the NBA Cup. Of course, there were other factors in that one loss, namely being that OKC had no healthy big men in that game.

Betting Info, presented by FanDuel

  • Line: OKC -11
  • O/U: 231.5

Injury Report

OKC

  • Isaiah Joe – OUT (knee)
  • Thomas Sorber – OFS (knee/ACL)
  • Nikola Topic – OUT (cancer treatment)

SAS

  • Victor Wembanyama – Probable (calf)

Five Big Things

  1. Different Looking Teams – Each team is coming into this game looking a bit different than what they’ve looked like lately. The Thunder are finally starting to get as healthy as they have been all season, with Isaiah Joe being the only rotational piece that will be out for this Cup semifinal. For the first time all season, the usual starting line-up of SGA, Dort, Dub, Chet, and Hartenstein has a chance to see the court together. On the other side, Victor Wembanyama is due to return from a calf strain that has kept him out since Nov. 14th. Despite all the injury setbacks, both teams have flexed their roster depth and find themselves as two of the top teams in the West, if not the NBA.
  2. Chet vs. Wemby – God, I love a good head-to-head match-up. The NBA has been trying to build this rivalry up since Wembanyama first entered the league in 2023. Injuries and the two teams being on different timelines have kept the rivalry from flourishing. But now…now seems like the right time for this thing to bubble over. Chet and Wemby seem to have a mutual respect, but also, a mutual animosity for each other. It feels very much like a 90’s match-up where social media and cell phones didn’t really give players access to other players unless they crossed paths in the All-Star game, shared an agent, or shared a brand. And the great thing about today’s match-up is that there are stakes involved. Win or go home. And also, I’ll see you two more times in the next two weeks.
  3. Rock Fight – While OKC may be a historic defense, the Spurs haven’t been too far behind in many statistical defensive categories. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson has done a great job of developing a culture similar to the Thunder’s, where the defense is their foundation and players like Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, and Stephon Castle are the offensive engines that score the points. Even with Wemby out, the Spurs have maintained their defensive principles and been great on that side of the ball. This could end up being a low-scoring affair.
  4. Creating Turnovers – The Spurs have three players that average over three turnovers per game. Stephon Castle (3.9), Wembanyama (3.6), and Fox (3.4) have the highest usage for the Spurs, but also the highest turnover rates. Dylan Harper averages 1.6 turnovers per game and will be facing probably the toughest he’s ever faced professionally. If the Thunder can generate their customary turnovers, it should fuel their transition offense and get them jump-started. In previous games against Wemby, the Thunder often swarm him and send doubles from different directions to keep him confused and create turnovers.
  5. Looking in the Mirror – The Spurs are coming into this game ready to prove themselves. Ready to show that they belong in the conversation for playoff contenders/championship contenders. They are in a position very similar to where the Thunder were last season. The Spurs will be hungry. Will the Thunder be hungrier? It’s the hunter vs. hunted mentality. The Thunder have played this season like they still have something to prove.

Phoenix Suns vs. Thunder preview (Game 25 of 82, NBA Cup Quarterfinals)

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  • Phoenix Suns (14-10, 7th in the West) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (23-1, 1st in the West)
  • When: Wednesday, 10 December 2025 at 6:30pm CST
  • Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
  • TV: Prime Video
  • Offensive Rating: PHX: 115.5 (12th) / OKC: 120.0 (5th)
  • Defensive Rating: PHX: 113.4 (12th) / OKC: 104.1 (1st)
  • Net Rating: PHX: 2.1 (12th) / OKC: 15.9 (1st)
  • Current Streaks: PHX: 2-1 in their last 3, 6-4 in their last 10 / OKC: 15 W’s in a row

The Set-Up

Chasing history. With a win tonight, the Oklahoma City Thunder will match the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors for the best start in NBA history at 24-1. While the records would be the same, the method in which they’ve arrived have been completely different. The Warriors changed the way the game was played offensively with their dominant pace and space style. The Thunder, on the other hand, are doing this with their other-worldly defense. The similarities are pretty loud also. Stephen Curry and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have similar impacts on their teams, while the supporting cast would be stars and starters on other teams. In addition, the coaching on both teams was top-notch and very player-driven. Now, OKC just has to go out there and do it.

This is the 2nd of (now) 5 meetings this season between the Suns and Thunder. Oklahoma City won the first meeting, which was also an NBA Cup game, by a score of 123-119. It was one of the few close games the Thunder have played recently. In that game, Jalen Williams returned to the lineup after missing the first 19 games of the season recovering from wrist surgery. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 37 points, Chet Holmgren pitched in with 23 points and 8 rebounds, and the Thunder were able to hold off a late push from Collin Gillespie and the surprising Suns.

Betting Info, presented by FanDuel

  • Line: OKC -14.5
  • O/U: 225.5

Injury Report

OKC

  • Isaiah Hartenstein – OUT (calf)
  • Isaiah Joe – OUT (knee)
  • Thomas Sorber – OFS (knee/ACL)
  • Nikola Topic – OUT (cancer treatment)

PHX

  • Devin Booker – Questionable (groin)
  • Koby Brea – Day to Day (wrist)
  • Jalen Green – OUT (hamstring)
  • Isaiah Livers – OUT (hip)

Three Big Things

  1. SGA is back – After a one-game absence, SGA is back in the lineup. While it does seem like SGA is dealing with something with his elbow, as evidenced by the tapework he usually has on it most games, it was also a great time in the schedule to buy Shai a game of rest. Playing against the directionless Utah Jazz allowed the team to give the reins to the other two members of their core 3, and they did what they were supposed to do. SGA may not be playing major minutes when compared to other high-usage players, but getting him a game of rest here and there is tantamount to the success of this team moving forward.
  2. 2nd Chance Points – Phoenix comes into this game as the 4th best offensive rebounding team in terms of OReb%, the 6th best offensive rebounding team in terms of raw stats (nearly 13 a game), and 9th in 2nd chance points at 16 Second Chance Points per game. With Isaiah Hartenstein being out, the onus will fall on Chet Holmgren and Jaylin Williams to secure defensive rebounds and prevent those 2nd chance points. In their last meeting, Phoenix’s near 4th quarter comeback was spurred by 7 offensive rebounds and 9 second chance points in the final quarter.
  3. Track Meet – Both of these teams like to create turnovers and get out in transition. The Thunder and Suns are #1 and 2, respectively, in points off turnovers. Where they differ completely is in how they defend turnovers. OKC is the #1 team in defending points off turnovers, while Phoenix is 28th in that same category. If OKC can play their game, they can win the turnover battle and the points off turnover battle.

Dallas Mavericks vs. Thunder preview (Game 23 of 82)

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  • Dallas Mavericks (8-15, 12th in the West) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (21-1, 1st in the West)
  • When: Friday, 05 December 2025 at 8:30pm CST
  • Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
  • TV: Prime Video
  • Offensive Rating: DAL: 107.6 (30th) / OKC: 119.0 (5th)
  • Defensive Rating: DAL: 111.3 (4th) / OKC: 103.8 (1st)
  • Net Rating: DAL: -3.8 (22nd) / OKC: 15.1 (1st)
  • Streaks: DAL: 3 W’s in a row, 5-5 in last 10 / OKC: 13 W’s in a row

The Set-Up

The decision for when to start a rebuild has to be an extremely difficult one for an organization. Sometimes, it’s self-inflicted. Sometimes, it’s thrust upon you unexpectedly. But it’s a decision fraught with potholes, pitfalls, and doubt. A decision that can set your franchise back years, possibly decades. And, yet, for most every team, it’s a decision that needs to be made once every 10-15 years. For Oklahoma City, the team knew they needed a refresh after the departure of Kevin Durant and the subsequent first round exits of the Russell Westbrook/Paul George-led teams. But that weird transitional season was also needed to get off the previous train and jump onto a new one. The season with Chris Paul, a newly acquired Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, rookie Lu Dort, potential 6th Man of the Year Dennis Schroder, and Steven Adams is one that lives happily in the minds of many Thunder fans, but also one that helped position the Thunder for what they currently are today.

Which brings me to the neighbors south of us, down I-35. Dallas is in a weird spot where they have some of the pieces needed to jump-start a rebuild (Cooper Flagg and Ryan Nembhard), but also are in a holding pattern with older stars such as Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, and the currently injured Kyrie Irving. They aren’t winning, but they also aren’t losing enough. These next few months before the trade deadline will be very interesting in Dallas.

This is the 2nd of 3 meetings this season between these regional rivals. OKC won the first meeting 101-94, in Dallas, in a game that saw the Thunder big men dominate on the scoreboard and on the glass. Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Jaylin Williams combined to score 38 points and grab 30 rebounds, with 6 of those being offensive.

Betting Info, presented by FanDuel

  • Line: OKC -15
  • O/U: 229.5

Injury Report

OKC

  • Alex Caruso – OUT (quad)
  • Lu Dort – OUT (adductor strain)
  • Isaiah Hartenstein – OUT (calf)
  • Thomas Sorber – OFS (knee/ACL)
  • Nikola Topic – OUT (cancer treatment)

DAL

  • Dante Exum – OFS (knee)
  • Daniel Gafford – Questionable (ankle)
  • Kyrie Irving – OUT (knee/ACL)
  • Dereck Lively – OUT (foot)
  • PJ Washington – Questionable (ankle)

Three Big Things

  1. Ryan Nembhard – Last season, in the Finals, no players on the Indiana Pacers, outside of Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakim, had more of an impact against the Thunder than Andrew Nembhard. Dallas decided to take a chance on Andrew’s younger brother, Ryan, as an undrafted free agent this past summer. And over the past four games, all starts, Ryan Nembhard has been balling out and leading the Mavericks to a 3-1 record over that stretch. Nembhard has been averaging 17 points, 7.5 assists to 1.3 turnovers, and shooting an absurd 65% from the field and 67% from three over that 4-game stretch. The one game where he did struggle during that 4-game stretch was against the Los Angeles Clippers, who have big rangy defenders like Kris Dunn who can make life difficult for a smaller point guard. With Dort and Alex Caruso out, that onus will fall on Cason Wallace and Ajay Mitchell.
  2. Comfortable Dub – The more games Jalen Williams gets under his belt, the more comfortable and in rhythm he gets. He hit the 20 point mark in their last game against the Warriors, scoring 22 points. His playmaking has been in mid-season form, as he’s averaging over 6 assists per game in his first 3 games. And his shooting percentage was above 50% for the first time this season in their last game. Everyone is asking whether the Thunder should throw their hat into the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstake, but honestly, Dub coming back may be their important “acquisition” this season.
  3. Upset Potential – The Mavericks are coming into this game the hottest they’ve been all season. They are riding a 3-game winning streak, Nembhard, Cooper Flagg, and Anthony Davis are all balling out, and Dallas’ defense has been consistent. You can almost always throw records out when it comes to regional rivalries and the Thunder have the biggest target on their back this season. OKC has been a little unfocused over the past few games and if that continues, it could come back to bite them in the butt this game.

Phoenix Suns vs. Thunder preview (Game 20 of 82, NBA Cup Game #4)

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  • Phoenix Suns (12-7, 6th in the West) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (18-1, 1st in the West)
  • When: Friday, 28 November 2025 at 8:30pm CST
  • Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
  • Offensive Rating: PHX: 115.8 (12th) / OKC: 119.3 (4th)
  • Defensive Rating: PHX: 112.1 (9th) / OKC: 102.9 (1st)
  • Net Rating: PHX: 3.7 (13th) / OKC: 16.4 (1st)

The Set-Up

This is what the NBA wanted when it set up groupings to determine who would head into the NBA Cup Tournament. Both the Thunder and Suns come into this game undefeated in Cup play. The winner definitely advances into the tournament, while the loser has to hope that other variables fall into place. It’s the ultimate “you decide your own fate” scenario. For the Thunder, while they may tell you that it’s just another game, the truth is likely that they want to avenge the only thing they didn’t get last season, the Cup championship.

This is the first of four meetings this season between Oklahoma City and Phoenix. The Thunder swept the season series 3-0, with an average margin of victory of 20 points.

Betting Info, presented by FanDuel

  • Line: OKC -14.5
  • O/U: 223.5

Injury Report

OKC

  • Isaiah Hartenstein – OUT (ankle)
  • Thomas Sorber – OFS (knee/ACL)
  • Nikola Topic – OUT (cancer treatment)
  • Aaron Wiggins – OUT (adductor strain)

PHX

  • Grayson Allen – OUT (quad)
  • Ryan Dunn – OUT (wrist)
  • Jalen Green – OUT (hamstring)
  • Isaiah Livers – OUT (hip)

Three Big Things

  1. Dub is back – Jalen Williams, who was a 3rd Team All-NBA and 2nd Team All-Defense player last season, was a key part to the Thunder’s championship run last season. Near the end of the regular season last year, Williams suffered a torn ligament in his right wrist. That he played through (and excelled, at points), is a miracle. But he did and accomplished what he and the team wanted to at the end of the season. With that, came surgery in the offseason. As surgeries usually go, there was some hiccups here and there with surgical hardware and what not. But, now, 20 games into the season, Dub makes his debut for a team that is currently 18-1 and on a torrid pace through the season.
  2. Possible chemistry issues – The fear, when a team is humming, is to introduce a big component that may disrupt that chemistry that has formed in the first 19 games of the season. Am I worried about this? No, I’m not. Is it a possibility? Of course. But as adaptable as this team is, the inclusion of an All-NBA and All-Defense player likely isn’t going to be something that trips them up. Especially, when everybody on this team understands their role and their location on the hierarchy.
  3. Strengths and Weaknesses – With Isaiah Hartenstein out, that puts more onus on Chet Holmgren and Jaylin Williams to secure the defensive glass. Phoenix is one of the better offensive rebounding teams in the league and that fuels them being a top-10 team in second chance points. But, Phoenix is a team that turnovers the ball over a ton (16.6 a game, 26th in the league) and their turnover percentage is even worse (29th in the league). Turnovers lead to points off of turnovers, where Phoenix is the 2nd worst team at defending points off turnovers and Oklahoma City city is the best at scoring off of turnovers.

Sacramento Kings vs. Thunder preview (Game 16 of 82)

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  • Oklahoma City Thunder (14-1, 1st in the West) at Sacramento Kings (3-11, 14th in the West)
  • When: Wednesday, 19 November 2025 at 7:00pm CST
  • Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
  • TV: FDSN-OK
  • Offensive Rating: SAC: 109.8 (25th) / OKC: 118.7 (4th)
  • Defensive Rating: SAC: 120.4 (27th) / OKC: 103.2 (1st)
  • Net Rating: SAC: -10.6 (26th) / OKC: 15.5 (1st)

The Set-Up

In the last preview for these two teams, I essentially wrote a eulogy for Russell Westbrook’s career. The Thunder were playing at home and this was one of two possible games the Thunder faithful had to watch Westbrook ball out in person. Due to how late in the offseason it took for Sacramento to sign Westbrook and the lack of offers from other teams, it felt like we were closing in on the swan song of Westbrook’s career. Westbrook doesn’t strike as the kind of player that would announce a farewell tour. Instead, he feels like the kind of player that either retires in the offseason without warning, plays until the wheels fall off, or goes silently into the night if no team in the league shows interest in him.

With how he played in the first few games of the season, I thought we were in the “wheels are falling off” timeline. But since the first of November, Westbrook has been averaging 15.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 7.9 assist, and nearly 1 steal a game, with 44/38.5/73 shooting split. Nothing terribly impressive, but also nothing to where you are shoveling dirt onto a body. There is still an NBA player there, so maybe we may get another season or two of Westbrook visits to OKC. Or, honestly, this may be the last visit as an NBA player. So enjoy it. Cheer him when he’s announced and appreciate everything he’s done for OKC.

This is the 3rd and final meeting of the season between these two teams. Oklahoma City won the first meeting 107-101. After being down for most of that game, the Thunder used a 17-4 run in the final 6 minutes of the game to secure the victory. Then, the Thunder shellacked the Kings in Sacramento 132-101 in the Thunder’s first NBA Cup game.

Betting Info presented by FanDuel

  • Line: OKC -18.5
  • O/U: 231.5

Injury Report

OKC

  • Thomas Sorber – OFS (knee/ACL)
  • Nikola Topic – OUT (cancer treatment)
  • Aaron Wiggins – OUT (adductor strain)
  • Jalen Williams – OUT (wrist)
  • Kenrich Williams – OUT (knee)

SAC

  • Keegan Murray – OUT (thumb)
  • Domantas Sabonis – OUT (knee)

Three Big Things

  1. Monster Hart – The last time these two teams played, Hartenstein scored a career-high 33 points to go along with 19 rebounds. Part of that was due to the fact that Domantas Sabonis was out that game. While we would never mistake Sabonis for being a defensive stud, we also know that he’s big enough to at least contend with Hartenstein and keep him relatively in check. The husk that is Drew Eubanks and rookie Maxime Raynaud were no match to Hart. And that same scenario plays out today with Sabonis being out.
  2. Perimeter Defense – Sacramento’s one saving grace is that they are top-10 in 3pt percentage. But in true Kangz fashion, they are 29th in 3-point attempts. In their first meeting of the season, the Kings started the game off by shooting 6-14 from 3 in the first half, buoyed by an unfathomable 3-4 shooting performance from deep for Westbrook. That shooting variance changed in the 2nd half and allowed OKC to get back in the game and eventually win. About the only chance Sacramento has in this game is in hoping for that kind of positive shot variance for an entire 48 minutes.
  3. 4th quarters – Another game, another opportunity to rest players at the end of game. Don’t discount this when the Thunder are playing deep into May and June. These moments of respite will come in handy as the season progresses and gets more difficult.

 

Sacramento Kings vs. Thunder preview (Game 5 of 82)

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  • Sacramento Kings (1-2) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (4-0)
  • When: Tuesday, 28 October 2025 at 7:00pm CST
  • Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
  • TV: FDSN-OK
  • Offensive Rating: SAC: 111.8 (20th) / OKC: 113.6 (18th)
  • Defensive Rating: SAC: 114.0 (14th) / OKC: 104.4 (1st)
  • Net Rating: SAC: -2.2 (18th) / OKC: 9.2 (4th)

The Set-Up

It’s kind of crazy being a fan of a team who’s extremely proficient up and down the organization. From ownership to the front office to the coaching staff to the players (and this includes their G-League team), the Oklahoma City Thunder are as efficient as they effective. It’s always been one of their key tenants in building a team culture that targets purposeful action. Things that you see in other successful organizations: the San Antonio Spurs, the Miami Heat, the Pittsburgh Steelers, etc. Organizations that from the top on down have an expectation and a plan to execute those expectations.

Annnnnnd then, there’s the Sacramento Kings. A team whose two decade-long status as a middling team has given rise to a nickname that acts as the alter ego to their wishes of a well run organization: the Kangz. The Kings of the early 2000’s that featured Chris Webber, Vlade Divac, and Doug Christie were the darlings of the NBA. Unfortunately, they ran into the beginning run of the Shaq/Kobe Lakers and were never able to scale that mountain. From there, it’s been flub after flub that has kept the team at or near the middle and away from the talent of the early lottery. When they’ve had the opportunity to draft high in the lottery, they’ve completely blown it (namely, 2018 when they drafted Marvin Bagley III over Luka Doncic). When they’ve gotten good young talent (De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis), they haven’t been able to build a team around them and sustain any type of success. Now, they are just trying their best to stay above water which will net them another middle of the pack season where they will be in the high lottery. Thank the basketball gods that I reside in Oklahoma.

This is the first of three meetings this season between the Kings and Thunder. The Thunder swept the season series last year, winning by an average of 23.7 points and have won five in a row against the Kings.

Betting Info presented by FanDuel

  • Line: OKC -10.5
  • O/U: 227.5

Injury Report

OKC

  • Chet Holmgren – OUT (back soreness)
  • Isaiah Joe – OUT (knee)
  • Thomas Sorber – OUT (knee – ACL)
  • Nikola Topic – OUT (testicular procedure)
  • Jalen Williams – OUT (wrist)
  • Kenrich Williams – OUT (knee)

SAC

  • Nique Clifford – OUT (hamstring)
  • Keegan Murray – OUT (thumb)

Three Big Things

  1. Strengths vs. Weaknesses – The Sacramento Kings are defensively weak on the interior. They allow 56 points per game in the paint (24th), 22.3 points off turnovers (28th), 18.3 second chance points (24th), and are last in the league in rebounds grabbed. Conversely, the Thunder score 54.5 points in the paint (10th), 22.3 points off turnovers (5th), and are 4th in the league in rebounds, which opens up the opportunity for 2nd chance points.
  2. Two-big Lineup – One of the biggest storylines heading into this season was whether the Thunder would continue to lean into the 2-big lineup or start to move away from it. Four games in, the Thunder have started the 2-big lineup in all the games and each of the big men is averaging a double/double. Last season, in 316 minutes played, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein had an offensive rating of 122.9, a defensive rating of 109.4, and a net rating of 13.5. This season, the offensive rating is 123.1, the defensive rating is 104.3, and the net rating is 18.8. In 2-man lineups that have played at least 80 minutes (20 minutes/game), the 2-big line-up is second behind the SGA/Cason Wallace 2-man lineup. In short, the two-big lineup is working much better so far this season.
  3. Russell Westbrook – There may not be too many more opportunities to see the King of the Prairie in his original field of play. Russell Westbrook was who OKC needed when they needed a hero the most. We all know what Russ means to the franchise. He’ll be the second number in the rafters and the first statue outside the arena. He’ll likely have a street in the city named after him. But we all saw how uneasy it was waiting for Westbrook to sign with the Kings a week before the season started. We don’t know when the end will come, but we all know the end is near. So appreciate any opportunity to cheer Westbrook on. On this team, he is no longer a threat like he was with the Denver Nuggets. Do what we do and give the man a raucous applause when he enters the game…because we don’t know how many more times we have to do this.

Thunder vs. Houston Rockets preview (Game 1 of 82)

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  • Oklahoma City Thunder (0-0) vs. Houston Rockets (0-0)
  • When: Tuesday, 21 October 2025 at 6:30pm CST
  • Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
  • TV: NBC/Peacock

The Set-Up

What do you do when you’ve accomplished the goal you’ve set out to accomplish every year since your existence? Do you rest on your laurels and reminisce about how it felt to reach the mountaintop? Do you become the “y’all remember when” guy? Or do you recognize that to reach the mountaintop again, you have to, as Thunder GM Sam Presti would so eloquently put it, “divorce yourself from the past” and begin anew? The mantra of having a 0-0 mindset while stacking days will be tested this season. Everything this team does this season will be compared to last year. That happens when you bring back every rotational piece that helped you reach your goal. But with that continuity, does complacency creep in? Everyone is saying the right things. Now it’s time to show the right things. Ring night. Banner night. Then the new journey begins.

This is the first of three meetings this season against the Houston Rockets. Last season, the Thunder won the season series 3-2. They faced each other in the NBA Cup semifinals, where the Thunder emerged victorious on their way to the NBA Cup finals.

Betting Info (brought to you by FanDuel)

  • Line: OKC -7
  • O/U: 228

Injury Report

OKC

  • Isaiah Joe – OUT (knee)
  • Thomas Sorber – OUT (knee)
  • Nikola Topic – OUT (testicular surgery)
  • Jalen Williams – OUT (wrist)
  • Kenrich Williams – OUT (knee)

HOU

  • Isaiah Crawford – Questionable (ankle)
  • Dorian Finney-Smith – OUT (ankle)
  • Jae’Sean Tate – OUT (ankle)
  • Fred VanVleet – OUT (knee)

Three Big Things

  1. Jumbo Line-up – The Rockets will feature a starting line-up where the shortest player out there will be 6’7″. (Don’t do the stupid hand shakey thing…and you just did it) If this was two seasons ago, it might be a little worrisome for the Thunder. But with Isaiah Hartenstein, Chet Holmgren, and Jaylin Williams all healthy to begin the season, this shouldn’t worry the Thunder too much. In fact, with the Rockets’ lack of a pure point guard/ball handler, outside of Reed Sheppard, and the lack of spacing, it may actually play into the Thunder’s defensive chaos machine.
  2. Brooks Barnhizer – It’ll be interesting to see if Barnhizer gets any burn in this game. He played in all six preseason games where he averaged 30 minutes, 9.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 2 steals on 44/42/72 shooting splits. The most interesting stat to me is that he averaged 4.2 free throw attempts in those six games. This team loves controlled aggressivity and Barnhizer has that in spades. Last year, as a rookie, Ajay Mitchell averaged 21 minutes per game in the preseason and was a part of the rotation from the start of the season until an injury forced him out of the rotation. With the Thunder being down a couple key rotation pieces due to injury, I could see Barnhizer getting some action early in the season and parlaying that into a role in the rotation.
  3. Oh the irony – Kevin Durant…here in OKC, on ring night. To see Durant looking up onto what used to be his kingdom, only see a banner being raised that he had no part in obtaining. Chef’s kiss. I may disagree with NBA commissioner Adam Silver that the NBA is a highlight only league. But this right here, this is WWE-level script writing. Bravo! Now cue Roundball Rock!