NBA All-Star Weekend is long gone as the Oklahoma City Thunder is ready to begin the final stretch of the season with back-to-back road trip starting on Thursday night in Salt Lake City against the Utah Jazz. After a surprisingly hot start to the season, the Jazz have settled a bit into a 29-31 record. The Thunder has experienced a different route to a similar record, starting off the season slowly before picking up the pace to get to 28-29 on the season.
At the beginning of the 2022-23 campaign, both of these squads were expected to fight for the bottom spot in the West in hopes of earning a lottery pick. At this point, both teams are in a position to jockey for a playoff spot. However, the Jazz made some moves at the deadline that prove they’re ready to give into the tank, while the Thunder appears primed to make a push for the play-in.
Tonight’s matchup could be a great way to kickoff the last six weeks of the season for the Thunder, but they have to be ready to play. The Jazz have some solid players, particularly in their front court featuring first-time All Star Lauri Markkanen and rookie Walker Kessler. Unfortunately for Utah, they are missing Collin Sexton, which means the Thunder backcourt should be able to feast.
Game Details
Tip-Off: 8 PM CT
Location: Vivint Arena (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Television: Bally Sports Oklahoma
Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal
Twitter: Follow @ZacharyLowNBA for live tweets and discussion during the game
Game Notes: Oklahoma City Thunder Official Game Notes, Utah Jazz Official Game Notes
Projected Starters
Thunder
- PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- SG: Josh Giddey
- SF: Luguentz Dort
- PF: Jalen Williams
- C: Jaylin Williams
Jazz
- PG: Jordan Clarkson
- SG: Udoka Azubuike
- SF: Lauri Markkanen
- PF: Kelly Olynyk
- C: Walker Kessler
Injury Report
Thunder
- Ousmane Dieng is OUT (G League — on assignment).
- Chet Holmgren is OUT (right foot surgery).
- Aleksej Pokusevski is OUT (left tibial plateau; non-displaced fracture).
Jazz
- Collin Sexton is OUT (strained left hamstring).
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 33-20 (20-6 at home, 13-14 on the road) against the Jazz in the regular season and 2-4 (2-1 at home, 0-3 on the road) in the playoffs.
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder has won the season series against the Jazz 10 times, lost it twice, and tied once.
- The Thunder went 0-4 against the Jazz last season (0-2 at home, 0-2 on the road).
- The Thunder has lost 7 in a row to the Jazz, including 3 in a row in Salt Lake City.