SHOULD REMAIN KYLIE WALKER KOCO FIVE NEWS. TURNING NOW TO OUR OKC THUNDER. THEY ARE ON THE ROAD TONIGHT GETTING READY TO TAKE ON THE TIMBERWOLVES. WE’VE GOT OUR SPORTS ANCHOR HANNAH HOOVER JOINING US HERE IN STUDIO HANNAH. SOMEONE NOTABLE NOT ON THE INJURY REPORT FOR TONIGHT’S GAME. THANK GOODNESS. REINFORCEMENTS HAVE ARRIVED FOR THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER TONIGHT. WELL AT LEAST ONE REINFORCEMENT. IT’S THE BIG GUY ISAIAH HARTENSTEIN BACK IN THE LINEUP AGAINST THE MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES AFTER MISSING THE LAST 16 GAMES STRAIGHT. SIDELINED FOR THE SECOND TIME AFTER DEALING WITH A LINGERING STRAIN TO HIS CALF MUSCLES, SIDELINING HART FOR A TOTAL OF 24 OF OKC FIRST 48 GAMES. WHEN HEALTHY, HARTENSTEIN HAS BEEN A DIFFERENCE MAKER, AVERAGING 11 POINTS, TEN REBOUNDS AND THREE ASSISTS. HIS RETURN COMES AT A KEY TIME FOR OKLAHOMA CITY AFTER STRUGGLING ON THE BOARDS DURING HIS ABSENCE. HERE’S ISAIAH JOE ON IHEART’S IMPACT. IT GIVES US ENERGY BECAUSE YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE ANY OF YOUR GUYS DOWN, BUT HAVING THEM BACK ON THE FLOOR JUST, YOU KNOW THAT WHEN THERE’S A PIECE MISSING AND YOU KNOW WHEN YOU GET IT BACK, IT’S GOING TO TURN THE TIDE OF THE WAY YOU PLAY. HE REBOUNDS, HE SCREENS, HE HE CREATES ACTION. HE MAKES IT EASIER FOR EVERYBODY ELSE ON THE FLOOR. JUST HAVING HIS PRESENCE OUT THERE IS CAN BE MENACING. SO HAVING HIM BACK IS A BIG PIECE A BIG ADVANTAGE TONIGHT WITH HARTENSTEIN BACK. BUT OKC IS STILL MISSING WITH A HAMSTRING INJURY AS WELL AS ALEX CARUSO, AJ MITCHELL BOTH OUT AGAINST MINNESOTA, AND CASON WALLACE IS QUESTIONABLE TONIGHT. SO THE OKC THUNDER ARE LOOKING TO GRAB A PIVOTAL REGULAR SEASON GAME AGAINST THE T-WOLVES AFTER MINNESOTA GOT T
‘He creates action’: Isaiah Hartenstein returns to OKC Thunder lineup against Timberwolves
Oklahoma City Thunder’s Isaiah Hartenstein is set to return to the lineup against the Minnesota Timberwolves after missing 16 games due to a calf injury.
Updated: 4:44 PM CST Jan 29, 2026
Isaiah Hartenstein is returning to the Oklahoma City Thunder lineup Thursday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves after missing 16 games due to a soleus strain. >> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5’s Morning NewsletterThis marks his second calf injury of the season, causing him to miss a total of 24 out of the Thunder’s 48 games. Hartenstein has averaged 11.2 points on 64.4% shooting, 10.4 rebounds, and three assists in 24 games this season, and his absence has been felt on the boards.”Gives us energy because you don’t want to see any of you guys down. But having them back on the floor just, you know that when there’s a piece missing and you know, when you get it back, they that’s going to make it could turn the tide of the way you play,” said Isaiah Joe. “He rebounds. He screens. He, He creates action. He makes it easier for everybody else on the floor. Just having his presence out there is, can be menacing. So having him back, it is a big piece.”Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.The Thunder are still missing J-Dub due to a hamstring injury, while Alex Caruso and Ajay Mitchell are out against Minnesota, and Cason Wallace is questionable.Top HeadlinesTIMELINE: Oklahoma See another Arctic front and chance of wintry mixTeenager arrested after woman’s body found in trashcan in Logan CountyAuthorities investigating homicide near Edmond after woman’s body found in trashcanNear misses continue in US skies one year after deadly Washington, DC, crashICE facility planned for Oklahoma City warehouse will not move forward
MINNEAPOLIS —
Isaiah Hartenstein is returning to the Oklahoma City Thunder lineup Thursday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves after missing 16 games due to a soleus strain.
>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5’s Morning Newsletter
This marks his second calf injury of the season, causing him to miss a total of 24 out of the Thunder’s 48 games.
Hartenstein has averaged 11.2 points on 64.4% shooting, 10.4 rebounds, and three assists in 24 games this season, and his absence has been felt on the boards.
“Gives us energy because you don’t want to see any of you guys down. But having them back on the floor just, you know that when there’s a piece missing and you know, when you get it back, they that’s going to make it could turn the tide of the way you play,” said Isaiah Joe. “He rebounds. He screens. He, He creates action. He makes it easier for everybody else on the floor. Just having his presence out there is, can be menacing. So having him back, it is a big piece.”
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
The Thunder are still missing J-Dub due to a hamstring injury, while Alex Caruso and Ajay Mitchell are out against Minnesota, and Cason Wallace is questionable.
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