New OKC Thunder acquisition Isaiah Hartenstein suffers minor injury, out for 5-6 weeks

Oklahoma City Thunder’s offseason acquisition Isaiah Hartenstein has suffered a minor injury and will be re-evaluated in 5-6 weeks, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. 

The 7-foot, 250 lb center who signed with the Thunder after his stint with the New York Knicks last season suffered a small, non-displaced fracture in his left hand in Tuesday’s preseason game in Denver. 

ANALYSIS: This could potentially be a game changer for the Thunder after looking good with Hartenstein in the preseason. OKC have been practicing the big man duo of Hartenstein and their young star Chet Holmgren, often running big-to-big dribble handoffs and pin down screens. 

Now OKC will have to start the new season playing Holmgren as the sole big man again. Although they found success in the regular season last year with the same setup (1st seed and 57-25 record), Hartenstein’s loss to start the season could make or break the Thunder’s early record in the tough and deep Western Conference.