### Isaiah Hartenstein Sparks Thunder to Victory with Dominant Offensive Rebounding

The Oklahoma City Thunder are enjoying a strong start to the 2024-25 season, standing as a top-two seed in the Western Conference with a 12-4 record. Despite their impressive standings, the team has faced struggles, particularly in offensive rebounding. However, a significant improvement came on Wednesday night with the debut of a key offseason acquisition.

Isaiah Hartenstein, who signed an $87 million contract with the Thunder during the offseason, made his regular season debut against the Portland Trail Blazers after recovering from a non-displaced fracture in his left hand. Although Hartenstein admitted to feeling a bit off offensively due to adjusting to his healed hand, his overall performance was nothing short of impressive.

Defensively stalwart and setting rock-solid screens, Hartenstein's contribution was most notable on the offensive glass. OKC, which had been ranked 24th in offensive rebounds per game and 17th in second-chance points per game, saw a substantial improvement. The Thunder pulled down 46 rebounds against the Trail Blazers, with an impressive 15 of those being offensive rebounds. Hartenstein alone accounted for 5 offensive boards out of his total 14 rebounds.

The incredible rebound figures marked the best performance in offensive rebounding for the Thunder this season, a feat not achieved since January of the previous season. Oklahoma City's management, led by Sam Presti, targeted Hartenstein precisely for his rebounding prowess, supported by his previous career-best season with the Knicks where he averaged 9.4 rebounds per game, including 3.4 offensive rebounds.

Even while coming off the bench, Hartenstein's presence was felt, and he proved to be a pivotal factor in the Thunder's 109-99 victory. As he continues to adapt and develop synergy with his teammates, the Thunder can expect further enhancement in second-chance opportunities and points, addressing one of their long-standing weaknesses.