The Oklahoma City Thunder are almost entirely healthy coming out of the All-Star Break, and they get a nice tune-up game to open up the final stretch of the regular reason as they take on the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City on Friday night.
The Thunder entered the break on a sour note, losing a 116-101 decision to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis. They’re likely chomping at the bit to get back in action as they continue their push to the best record in the West, and they get a great opportunity to work off any rust as they face a struggling Jazz squad.
Utah is just 13-41 on the season, a half-game ahead of the New Orleans Pelicans for the worst record in the Western Conference. Extensive injuries have kept the Jazz from being competitive many nights, but they have surprised some teams with their fight. OKC should have no issue handling the Jazz as they get back into the swing of things, but it would be nice to see them perform at a high level and take care of business against a lesser opponent.
Game Details
Tip-Off: 8:30 PM CT
Location: Delta Center (Salt Lake City, Utah)
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: Luguentz Dort
- SF: Jalen Williams
- PF: Chet Holmgren
- C: Isaiah Hartenstein
Jazz
- PG: Isaiah Collier
- SG: Keyontae George
- SF: Lauri Markkanen
- PF: John Collins
- C: Kyle Filipowski
Injury Report
Thunder
- Ajay Mitchell (sprained right great toe) is OUT.
- Nikola Topic (left knee surgery) is OUT.
Jazz
- Elijah Harkless (G League — two-way) is OUT.
- Taylor Hendricks (fractured right fibula) is OUT.
- KJ Martin (return to competition conditioning) is QUESTIONABLE.
- Micah Potter (G League — two-way) is OUT.
- Collin Sexton (sprained left ankle) is OUT.
- Oscar Tshiebwe (G League — two-way) is OUT.
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 40-21 (26-6 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).
- So far this season, The Thunder is 2-0 against the Jazz (2-0 at home, 0-0 on the road).
- OKC has won 8 of the last 9 meetings with Utah.