The Thunder set the tone early but briefly trailed after the Kings, led by Russell Westbrook and Malik Monk, hit a string of threes to close the first quarter ahead 32-30. Hartenstein then took control in the second, scoring 15 points without a miss and sparking a decisive run. Oklahoma City outscored Sacramento 40-24 in the second quarter, building a 70-56 halftime lead and never looking back.
The Thunder exploited the absence of Kings’ center Domantas Sabonis, who missed his second straight game with rib soreness. Oklahoma City dominated the paint, outscoring Sacramento 60-34 inside and leading by as many as 31 points. Cason Wallace contributed 15 points and Isaiah Joe added 13 for OKC. Chet Holmgren, returning after missing the previous matchup, chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds.
For Sacramento, Russell Westbrook led with 24 points and nine assists against his former team, while DeMar DeRozan and Keegan Murray struggled to keep pace. The Kings fell to 3-6 on the season.
The win marked the Thunder’s seventh consecutive victory, rebounding quickly after their only loss of the season to Portland. Oklahoma City has now beaten Sacramento twice in 11 days, flipping the script from their previous meeting when the Thunder were shorthanded.
Next, the Thunder visit Memphis, while the Kings host Minnesota. For a detailed breakdown of player stats and highlights, visit the CBS Sports Thunder vs. Kings game recap.