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Just like the last two years, the Oklahoma City Thunder are enjoying a mini-vacation. They completed a Round 1 sweep over the Phoenix Suns. It was another ho-hum NBA playoff matchup that showed a Grand Canyon-esque talent gap. Extra rest comes with that territory.
Now, the Thunder await their Round 2 opponent. It'll either be the Los Angeles Lakers or the Houston Rockets. After LeBron James led his squad to an indestructible 3-0 series lead, the Durant-less Rockets have rattled off two straight wins to make things interesting.
You now have to at least consider the thought of the unthinkable. Could the Rockets pull off the first-ever 3-0 series comeback? A Game 6 win at their home gym suddenly puts all the pressure on Los Angeles — who remains without Luka Doncic.
As the Thunder get a week off between NBA playoff games, Isaiah Hartenstein has kept an eye on the Lakers and Rockets. The 27-year-old helped earn OKC another Round 1 sweep — it's third straight. He averaged 11 points on 71.4% shooting, 8.3 rebounds and two assists in four games against the Suns.
“You just watch it just to make sure," Hartenstein said. "You never know who you play against and kinda try to control what you can control.”
Against either opponent, Hartenstein will have his hands full. He'll likely match up against Alperen Sengun if the Rockets make NBA history with four straight playoff wins over the Lakers. Or he'll get assigned Deandre Ayton and James — depending on Jalen Williams' status — if Los Angeles claws out one more win.
Either way, the Thunder will get a level up in competition. That naturally happens as the NBA playoffs slice its group of teams in half. That said, OKC should be heavily favored to beat either the Lakers or the Rockets. Both teams bring their own shortcomings against the reigning NBA champions.
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Isaiah Hartenstein keeping an eye on Lakers-Rockets NBA playoff series
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