DAN GARTLAND
Good morning, I’m Dan Gartland. Who would have ever expected Isaiah Hartenstein to become the main character of a conference finals game?
In today’s SI:AM:
🇺🇸 Inside USMNT’s World Cup prep
That’s one way to stop Wemby
Brett Rojo/Imagn Images
The Western Conference finals are tied at a game apiece after the Thunder bounced back to beat the Spurs in Game 2 on Wednesday night, 122–113.
Like Monday night’s Game 1, it was another tightly matched game. Although OKC led for most of the second half, its lead never stretched to double digits in the final 22 minutes. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander showed again why he’s won back-to-back MVP awards, and the Thunder got solid contributions from bench players like Alex Caruso, Jared McCain and Ajay Mitchell.
The biggest story, though, was how the Thunder neutralized Victor Wembanyama. After a historic showing (41 points and 24 rebounds) in San Antonio’s Game 1 win, Wemby put up a mortal 21 points and 17 boards. The difference was the defense on him by Isaiah Hartenstein.
Hartenstein, a burly 7-footer who signed with the Thunder before last season to improve their physicality near the rim, hardly played in Game 1. He logged just 12 minutes after playing at least 20 minutes in each of OKC’s previous eight games this postseason. The reason was that he couldn’t effectively contain Wembanyama. (Although, to be fair, neither could anyone else.)
Last night was different, though. Hartenstein found the key to keeping Wemby in check: Just knock the crap out of him on every play and hope the refs don’t call a foul. CONTINUE DAN’S COLUMN ON SI
The best of Sports Illustrated
- The Thunder adjusted defensively to handle Spurs star Victor Wembanyama and even the Western Conference finals at 1. But Chris Mannix says the real test for the defending champions will arrive when the series moves to San Antonio.
- Mannix also goes inside the Knicks’ plan to attack Cavaliers guard James Harden on defense and why the Mavericks and head coach Jason Kidd split up.
- Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza talks to Gilberto Manzano about Tom Brady’s advice on leadership and his Step Brothers-inspired video with quarterback Kirk Cousins.
- A lot has changed since the last time the U.S. hosted the men’s World Cup in 1994. But one thing remains the same: It is still, as USMNT defender Tim Ream calls it, “an opportunity to inspire generations of people.” Jon Arnold sketches out the crucial moment that awaits U.S. soccer on home soil this summer.
- After three consecutive 100-loss seasons, the White Sox look poised to crash the postseason party. Nick Selbe writes that the franchise seems to have laid a sound groundwork for the near future.
- The Big Ten and its commissioner, Tony Petitti, are putting pressure on the SEC to agree to a 24-team College Football Playoff, Bryan Fischer reports.
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Alonzo Adams/Imagn Images
👀 The top five …
… things I saw last night:
5. Shohei Ohtani’s home run on the first pitch of the game. (He also pitched five scoreless innings, because of course he did.)
4. Pirates right fielder Jake Mangum’s sliding catch to end the inning with the bases loaded.
3. Maggie Flaherty’s one-timer from the blue line to extend the Montreal Victoire’s lead over the Ottawa Charge in the PWHL championship series. Montreal won, 4–0, to clinch the series and win the Walter Cup.
2. Mitch Marner’s slick assist on the Golden Knights’ second goal of their Western Conference final game against the Avalanche. (Vegas won, 4–2.)
1. Stephon Castle’s incredible dunk on Isaiah Hartenstein.
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Go inside how 48 artists around the world created 48 original covers for Sports Illustrated to commemorate the participating nations in the 2026 World Cup.
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