The Oklahoma City Thunder signed Isaiah Hartenstein to a multi-year contract, and he has undoubtedly become one of head coach Mark Daigneault’s go-to men. When Chet Holmgren missed several games because of an injury in the regular season, Hartenstein stepped up and ensured the team didn’t miss him much.
After the Thunder lost Game 1 to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals, Hartenstein stepped up in Game 2. Although he had a solid performance in Game 1, the Thunder’s victory came after an outstanding defensive performance from Hartenstein and Holmgren.
The duo stopped Nikola Jokić from going on another 40+ points performance and fouled him out in the third quarter. So, let’s dig deep into his all-action display in Game 2.
Isaiah Hartenstein vs. Denver Nuggets: Game 2 Stats
| Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists | FG% | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22:11 | 14 | 8 | 5 | 6/7 | 0/0 |
Hartenstein vs. Nuggets: How Did Hartenstein Perform in Game 2?
From the start, Hartenstein looked set for a significant game and shut down Jokić. He came up big in the points tally, dominated inside the paint, and Jokić had no answer to his barrage of points. Likewise, he and Holmgren, who finished with 11 rebounds, stopped Jokić from grabbing more than ten rebounds. Their plan worked to perfection.
Likewise, on the defensive end, Hartenstein bullied the Nuggets players into missing shots, had one block and one steal, knocked the ball off most players several times, and had deflections here and there.
Usually an efficient scorer inside the paint, Jokić couldn’t muster up a brilliant performance. It hurt the Nuggets badly as they had just 28 points inside the paint owing to the Serbs’ struggles.
Isaiah Hartenstein Roll Man Floaters pic.twitter.com/0djdvkUFWJ
— Coach Gibson Pyper (@HalfCourtHoops) May 8, 2025
In the meantime, Hartenstein’s passing became another key component in the Thunder’s dominance in Game 2. The center caught the ball, waited for the open man, and dished out assists for his teammates, ending the game with five priceless assists.
He earned a +/- of 19 in the game and contributed immensely to both the offensive and defensive sides of the game. Hartenstein became one of the players to force Jokić to have six turnovers in the game, which gave the Thunder an added advantage.
The former Knicks center finished the game with 14 points, eight rebounds, and five assists.
Isaiah Hartenstein vs. Nuggets: Head-to-Head Career Stats
Before arriving in Oklahoma City, Hartenstein moved around in the league, looking for a place to kick-start his career. He assumed he had that after moving to the Knicks, but couldn’t find his feet there. But he finally found his home in Oklahoma. He averaged 11.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks with the Thunder, becoming an efficient two-way player.
He’s met the Nuggets 12 times in his career and averaged 8.4 points and 4.9 rebounds. But those numbers reflect his past, as after arriving to play for the Thunder, the center scored 14.0 points and 8.8 rebounds, showcasing his dominance inside the paint on both sides of the floor.
Likewise, Hartenstein had a great time in the playoff series against the Grizzlies, averaging 9.0 points and 8.8 rebounds. Those rebound numbers assisted the Thunder in gaining early possessions and scoring fastbreak points in some phases of play.
Thus, Hartenstein remains a critical player for the Thunder against the Nuggets with Jokić struggling in Game 2.
Hartenstein’s last 10 games vs. the Nuggets
- January 22, 2020 – 2 pts, 0 rebs, 0 asts
- January 19, 2022- 4 pts, 3 rebs, 3 asts
- March 22, 2022 – 14 pts, 2 rebs, 5 asts
- November 16, 2022 – 0 pts, 3 rebs, 0 asts
- March 18, 2023 – 6 pts, 9 rebs, 1 asts
- March 21, 2024 – 20 pts, 8 rebs, 3 asts
- March 09, 2025 – 10 pts, 11 rebs, 1 asts
- March 10, 2025 – 20 pts, 7 rebs, 2 asts
- May 05, 2025 – 12 pts, 9 rebs, 1 asts
- May 07, 2025 – 14 pts, 8 rebs, 5 asts
