The Oklahoma City Thunder (37-20) will host the Utah Jazz (32-25) for their first game following the All-Star break. Both teams enter this game relatively healthy, as the Jazz will still be without Dante Exum and the Thunder have no reported injuries. These teams have already played twice this season and will meet up two more times starting with Friday night’s matchup. OKC took care of business in their last meeting with Utah, as they came out on top 107-106. MVP candidate Paul George led the way with 43 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals in the victory. George also scored 31 points in the first game they played the Jazz this season, while Russell Westbrook added on a triple-double. The Oklahoma City Thunder are a small favorite in this game at home.
Thunder Looking to Keep Rolling
Back in 2017, when the trade for the Thunder went through to acquire Paul George from Indiana, it was clear they wanted to pair Westbrook up with another superstar after things with Kevin Durant never quite worked out. OKC shipped Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis over to the Pacers, as the trade has worked out for both sides. Pacers fans really didn’t know what to think of the trade given how good George had been with them and the slow development of Oladipo. VO went on to win the 2017-’18 most improved player award averaging 23.1 points per game that season. Oladipo was off to a great start this season before suffering a season-ending injury. But thanks to the MVP level play of George, and triple-double capability of Westbrook, the Thunder sit at 3rd place in the Western Conference.
Utah Coasting Along
They are also one of the best teams at home (20-7), while the Jazz currently sits at 6th place in the West with a 14-15 away record. For most team’s things can change over the second half of the season. The West is full of superstars, and with how good Donovan Mitchell has been in his first couple of seasons we’re not ready to give him that label quite yet. The Jazz is very well-coached by Quin Snyder and plays excellent team defense. Rudy Gobert helps in that category averaging 2.1 blocks per game, to go along with 15.2 points and 12.9 rebounds. The five-year center currently ranks 3rdin blocks this season but has the best field goal percentage in the league at 65.4 percent. Between him and Mitchell’s team-high 22.4 points per game, we’ll see if they can kick off the second half of the season with a win.
- Get more details: Utah at Oklahoma City NBA Match-up
