Isaiah Hartenstein delivered a career-best performance with 33 points and 19 rebounds, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 132-101 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Friday night.
The 7-foot center shot 14 of 17 from the field, also contributing three assists and three blocks. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 30 points, helping the Thunder (9-1) recover quickly after their only loss of the season two nights earlier in Portland.
This win marked Oklahoma City's first victory in the NBA Cup tournament. They led by as much as 23 points and dominated inside, outscoring Sacramento 60-34 in the paint.
The Kings played without big man Domantas Sabonis, who sat out his second straight game with sore ribs. Meanwhile, Thunder’s Chet Holmgren contributed 10 points and seven rebounds. Sabonis had been active for the previous game, which the Kings won 107-101 in Oklahoma City.
Sacramento’s Russell Westbrook, who spent nine seasons with Oklahoma City and is the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, scored 24 points and provided nine assists facing his former team.
“Isaiah Hartenstein had a career-high 33 points along with 19 rebounds and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Sacramento Kings 132-101 on Friday night.”
With contrasting circumstances from their recent matchup—Kings missing Sabonis and Thunder missing Holmgren—the Thunder controlled the game and secured a decisive win.
Summary: Isaiah Hartenstein's standout performance propelled the Thunder to a commanding win over the Kings, highlighting the impact of key player absences and strong team effort.