With a 104-99 win against the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday night, the Oklahoma City Thunder wrapped up the 2024 NBA preseason with an impressive 4-1 record.
However, the tallies in the win column were dampened by injuries to a pair of stars, Jalen Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein.
While Hart has been ruled out indefinitely and will be reevaluated after a month, fans are holding their breath and hoping that the injury to J-Dub isn’t severe. The 23-year-old left Thursday’s contest after an awkward landing saw him crying out in pain and immediately sending him to the locker room.
That said, there certainly isn’t all bad news. Oklahoma City witnessed some strong early performances by multiple young stars, reassuring the organization and its fans that, despite the injury bulletin increasing early, there is enough star firepower to patch some of the blow.
Showing out early
Entering the preseason, the team took a steady approach and prioritized team unity. Training camp and pre and postgame interviews were evidence of that. Every preseason game saw the Thunder emphasize a different department. Whether it was the rookies and G Leaguers getting the shine, the starting lineup, or the early bench rotation, everyone got adequate playing time and something to hang their hat on entering the regular season.