Stiles Points: Double Big Lineups Show Value Against Bucks

The Oklahoma City Thunder made a worthy investment into Isaiah Hartenstein this past summer and it is paying off as OKC cashes in on double-big lineups.

Mar 16, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) looks for a shot against Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) and center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) in the third quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images / Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

In July, the Oklahoma City Thunder landed its biggest free agent –– literally and figuratively –– by shelling out $87 Million to Isaiah Hartenstein to ink the seven-footer to a three-year pact. Since then, the former Knick has proven to be a worthy investment for Sam Presti and Co.

On Sunday against the Bucks, Hartenstein's partnership with fellow big man Chet Holmgren continued to blossom.

Down two starters –– Jalen Williams and Lu Dort -– The Thunder continued its dominance against the Eastern Conference (24-1) and earned its ninth straight road win, toppling the Bucks, 121-105.

This was in large part due to the new Thunder front court duo, as Hartenstein and Holmgren combined for 40 points, 20 rebounds and six assists. This kept Oklahoma City's offense in a flow, especially in the non-Shai Gilgeous-Alexander minutes –– a feat that the Thunder have struggled to pull off at times even at full strength.

The pairing has come a long way since stepping on the floor for the first time together on Feb. 7. it has been clunky at times but this past week, it has clicked.

Mark Daigneault deployed this lineup against a smaller Bucks bench and it displayed why the money –– and at times messy minutes –– was all worth it.

With each of them being good playmakers (and in Hartenstein's case great ones) they force defenses into a bind when they lack size. If either one receives the ball in the post you have to send your center to commit to the ball to takeaway an easy finish. But, here comes the other seven-footer cutting to the rim and receiving a dart from the other (or lob) for easy points anyways.

So what's the solution? If you have the resources, match size with size. But then, you get into the trouble of Holmgren's floor spacing. A career 36% shooter who has shot 50% or better in five of his last 12 games. If you elect to leave the Gonzaga product open, the Thunder will take their chances with an open 3-pointer. If you close out? Holmgren can attack off the dribble and get past a lumbering big man to the rim.

These two have gelled on the offensive end and have time to keep improving. Defensively, the Thunder have found a way to slightly alter its shell to play to the strengths of this duo and tonight was a perfect example.

The Bucks shot an inefficient 39 percent from the floor. Made possible by the Thunder only letting up five shots at the rim to Giannis Antetokounmpo who turned in 21 points on sub-50 percent shooting. The physicality of Hartenstein to push the Bucks superstar into a mid-range shot diet is still the result you hunt for regardless of the career-high 45% mark Antetokounmpo is putting up on those attempts.

Milwaukee as a whole shot just 50% at the rim, ranking in the sixth percentile against Oklahoma City according to cleaning the glass. On the flip side, the Thunder converted at a 73% clip at the cup in this matchup.

Then, you get into the rebounding numbers where against the Bucks the Thunder won the battle on the glass, 50-34.

if this lineup can keep coming together at this pace, Oklahoma City can flip a disadvantage from a year ago into an advantage with imposing its size on matchups while still playing the Thunder's style. A vision that has came together in Bricktown.

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