How Isaiah Hartenstein exposed a major weakness in Victor Wembanyama

Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images Spurs vs Thunder: How Hartenstein made the difference in game 2 Victor Wembanyama was at the heart of San Antonio’s win over Oklahoma City, putting up 41 points, 24 rebounds and getting to the line 13 times. Most of his impact came inside, which is exactly where the Spurs wanted him operating. But just two nights later, Oklahoma City responded with a 122-113 win in Game 2, and this time, Isaiah Hartenstein played a key role in changing Wembanyama’s game.

Game 2 told a different story. While Wembanyama still managed three triples and found ways to contribute, he was kept further from the basket. The Thunder made him work harder for his points, and that version of San Antonio’s offence was much easier to handle.

Wembanyama had a dominant showing in the opener, using his size to get to the rim and draw contact, allowing him to control the flow of San Antonio’s attack without having to force shots from outside. But that changed in Game 2. He took seven threes but got to the line just twice, a clear departure from how he had been operating inside in the series opener.

The numbers tell the story. Wembanyama shot 12-for-13 from the line in Game 1. In Game 2, he went just 2-for-2.