The Oklahoma City Thunder is set to play the second game of a three-game homestand on Wednesday as they host the Utah Jazz. This is also the first game of a back-to-back for the Thunder as they host the Dallas Mavericks tomorrow night. OKC is a heavy favorite, which makes sense considering Utah has the worst record in the Western Conference at 10-31. Still, the Jazz have found ways to stay competitive, so the Thunder needs to take care of business early so that starters can get some extra rest ahead of another tough game tomorrow night.
Despite Utah’s record, they have a deep pool of solid players. A big issue for the Jazz this season has been dealing with the injury bug, and that is evidenced by the number of players that are questionable for tonight. Jalen Williams is questionable for OKC, and Isaiah Hartenstein is still out, but the Thunder has a lot of depth, and they should be able to handle Utah by forcing the Jazz into turning the ball over, something Utah does more than any other team in the league.
Game Details
Tip-Off: 7 PM CT
Location: Paycom Center (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Television: FanDuelTV – 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: Cason Wallace
- SF: Luguentz Dort
- PF: Jalen Williams
- C: Jaylin Williams
Jazz
- PG: Keyontae George
- SG: Collin Sexton
- SF: Lauri Markkanen
- PF: John Collins
- C: Walker Kessler
Injury Report
Thunder
- Isaiah Hartenstein (strained left soleus) is OUT.
- Chet Holmgren (fractured right iliac wing) is OUT.
- Ajay Mitchell (right great toe surgery) is OUT.
- Nikola Topic (left knee surgery) is OUT.
- Jalen Williams (strained right hip) is QUESTIONABLE.
Jazz
- Jordan Clarkson (left plantar fasciitis) is OUT.
- John Collins (left hip injury management) is QUESTIONABLE.
- Taylor Hendricks (fractured right fibula) is OUT.
- Johnny Juzang (fractured right hand) is OUT.
- Lauri Markannen (lower back spasms) is QUESTIONABLE.
- Micah Potter (G League — two-way) is OUT.
- Brice Sensabaugh (sprained right ankle) is QUESTIONABLE.
- Cody Williams (sprained left ankle) is OUT.
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 39-21 (25-6 at home, 14-15 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 12 times, lost it twice, and tied once.
- The Thunder went 3-1 against the Jazz last season (2-0 at home, 1-1 on the road).
- The Thunder is 1-0 against the Jazz so far this season (1-0 at home, 0-0 on the road).
- OKC has won 7 of the last 8 meetings with Utah including 5 straight at the Paycom Center.