During the regular season, the tandem of Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren was among the league’s best pairings, dominating on the defensive end and being connective options offensively.
In Game 5, the Thunder’s biggest game of the season, the duo proved vital once again, combining for 29 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, a pair of steals and three blocks.
This is an immensely physical series, with the likes of Nikola Jokić, Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr. and even Russell Westbrook, to a lesser degree. But Oklahoma City places a ton of trust in Holmgren and Hartenstein, believing in their ability to not only rise to the challenge but also overcome it.
Whether it’s Hartenstein throwing up prayer hands to the basketball gods after his floater finally fell or Holmgren going coast to coast showcasing his ballhandling ability, the Thunder have two of the most versatile big men in the NBA. And as efficient as they can be operating in separate lineups, their innate chemistry, consistently playing off each other, gives them an edge most teams don’t have.