Hartenstein, who was signed as a free agent after playing with the New York Knicks last season, had been sidelined due to a fractured bone in his left hand. In his return, he recorded 13 points, 14 rebounds, and four blocks over 29 minutes, providing essential rim protection and added size for a Thunder team plagued by injuries in the frontcourt.
Meanwhile, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander contributed 28 points, managing to convert all 14 of his free throw attempts despite making only 7 of 19 shots from the field. This effort helped Oklahoma City break a two-game losing streak.
Additionally, Alex Caruso added 17 points, significantly boosting the Thunder’s second unit, which outperformed Portland’s reserves 44-31.
For the Trail Blazers, Shaedon Sharpe led the scoring with 21 points, while Toumani Camara and Jerami Grant chipped in 14 points each.
The game remained competitive for three quarters, but the Thunder pulled ahead with a strong 39-30 performance in the fourth quarter.
**Takeaways**
Thunder: Hartenstein’s immediate influence was notable. Previously, the Thunder had struggled significantly with rebounding in their recent matchups, so a close rebounding margin of 49-46 felt like a positive sign.
Trail Blazers: Oklahoma City capitalized on Portland’s turnovers, scoring 28 points from them during the game.
**Key Moment**
The Thunder found themselves down 20-13 with just over five minutes remaining in the first quarter when Hartenstein entered the game after missing the last 15 games. His addition was crucial as the Thunder are set to be without Chet Holmgren, a top-tier rim protector, for at least six more weeks due to a pelvic fracture.
**Key Stat**
Oklahoma City dominated the paint, outscoring the Blazers 56-32 in that area.
**Upcoming Matches**
The Trail Blazers are scheduled to play against the Houston Rockets on Friday, while the Thunder will face the Sacramento Kings on Monday.