The Oklahoma City Thunder are on pace to clinch the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference for the second season in a row after sweeping its three-game road trip by beating the Milwaukee Bucks 121-105 on Sunday, March 16.
Oklahoma was yet again led by MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but Isaiah Hartenstein’s impressive performance on offense and defense sealed the deal for the Thunder. The G-League champion registered a career-high 24 points and was humble after the milestone achievement.
Isaiah Hartenstein Humble After Leading Thunder to Victory Against The Bucks
Hartenstein started the game and was in points early with a pick-and-roll layup. He went on to post a career-high 24 points on 11-for-15 shooting while adding 12 rebounds (two offensive), three assists, and holding the Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo to just his fourth game below 50% shooting all season.
The 26-year-old was humble enough to credit his teammates for the biggest scoring night of his career, and while he did highlight his physicality over being able to hold Antetokounmpo to just 21 points, Hartenstein made sure to praise the team’s defense.
“We moved the ball good, they gave me easy looks and defensively, just being physical,” he said of his secret to big impact in the game.
“We did a great job of playing team defense. Today, you really saw how much that big lineup can really help,” Hartenstein added.
❝Just wanted to come in, play team defense, and go from there.❞
IHart connects with @NickAGallo postgame 🎤 pic.twitter.com/nWhdiZSTdE
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) March 17, 2025
Hartenstein has been averaging 11.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists- all three career highs – since signing a three-year, $87,000,000 contract with the Thunder in 2024, who have one of the best defenses in recent memory under him.
Oklahoma improved to 56-12 with the win and holds a 13-game lead over the Houston Rockets for the top spot in the Western Conference. With only 14 games to go in the regular season, there’s little doubt that Mark Daigneault and company will claim the top spot in the West for the second consecutive year.
Kendrick Perkins Predicts Thunder in 2025 NBA Finals
While the Thunder have been ruthless this season, many have doubted the young talent on the squad’s ability to sustain their dominance in the post-season. Former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins, however, isn’t one of them and believes Oklahoma has a real shot at the NBA Finals with Gilegous-Alexander at the front.
“Whoever don’t feel OKC, I feel sorry for your loss, ’cause they’re going to the NBA Finals,” Perkins said. “This team checked all the boxes. They have SGA, a bonafide superstar, who could be the best player in any seven-game series against any other player in the league. They strap a defensively, they are the No.1 defensive team in the league,” Perkins said on ESPN’s NBA Countdown last month
In the 68-game stretch, the Thunder have the best point differential of 846 this season, while the Cleveland Cavaliers have the next best at 737 and the Celtics at 574.