OKC Thunder Big Man Exits Indiana Pacers Game

Despite the Oklahoma City Thunder's historic season, already owning a 61-12 mark on March 29 with the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference clinched, it has been a season where the OKC Thunder can not avoid injuries.

Throughout the season, Isaiah Hartenstein, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, Alex Caruso, Jaylin Williams and Kenrich Williams have all missed significant time with other rotational pieces popping in and out of the lineup due to injury as well.

That makes the fact that the Thunder are in the driver's seat for the best record in the NBA even more impressive, with another Division banner already in hand. On Saturday, the injury woes continued.

After starting the game without Chet Holmgren, Jaylin Williams and Aaron Wiggins the Thunder's rotation took another blow mid-way through the contest.

Its seven-footer who inked a club record pact back in July left the game early due to what the team is calling left hip soreness.

Hartenstein was only able to play 14 minues tonight en route to four points, five rebounds, an assist and 2-for-5 shooting from the floor while being a +1 in the box score plus/minus.

At this juncture the Thunder still control an 81-68 lead over the Pacers inside the Paycom Center but will need to continue to lean on two-way big man Branden Carlson for minutes where Mark Daigneault needs size and a scrappy duo of Kenrich Williams and Alex Caruso to make up its small ball lineup.

The fact this injury is being labeled soreness leads you to believe this will not hamper the former Knick long-term. Against the Grizzlies on Thursday, Caruso left the game with back soreness only to return the next game tonight against Indiana.

Oklahoma City has the luxury of taking caution with injuries given the early work this team has done to salt away its regular season seeding.