Isaiah Hartenstein Reflects on Thunder's First Loss to Trail Blazers
Isaiah Hartenstein and the Oklahoma City Thunder entered the matchup with an 8-0 record, marking the best start in franchise history. However, their undefeated run ended after a narrow 121–119 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Thunder lost a 22-point lead and, despite being shorthanded and on the second half of a back-to-back road series, nearly erased an eight-point deficit in the final three minutes.
Hartenstein on Portland’s Improvement
“They've been playing great all year. I think, especially young teams, at the beginning of the year, always kind of come out with that kind of energy,” Hartenstein said. “They've done a good job getting the right people in. Jrue has been really big for them. Guys have been developing a lot. Those are the kinds of games that help you build confidence, even though we have like eight, seven guys out, and coming off a back-to-back. But I think just for them, it's a good learning block.”
Thunder’s Struggles in Execution
“I think most of it was we didn't execute as well as we should,” Hartenstein added. “There were some plays that we could have controlled. Some missed layups here and there, but I don't think it was that crazy of a game to be honest.”
Despite the setback, Hartenstein highlighted the resilience of his team while giving credit to Portland’s progress and composure.
Author’s Note
Hartenstein’s remarks reflect both accountability for the Thunder’s first loss and respect for the Blazers’ emerging chemistry and development.