When Oklahoma City plays Utah for the third time this season, the Thunder hope to defeat the Jazz for the fourth time in a row. See our top NBA predictions for Friday night and learn more about our Oklahoma City vs. Utah forecast.
In their last game before the All-Star break, the Oklahoma City Thunder ended their seven-game winning run. They only shot 42.0% from the field (7-for-29 from downtown) in their 116-101 away defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Utah Jazz have struggled recently, losing four of their last five games. They briefly halted a three-game losing streak with a 131-119 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers but followed it up with a disappointing 120-116 overtime loss to the LA Clippers in their final game before the All-Star break. The Jazz squandered a 20-point lead in that contest, scoring just 13 points in the fourth quarter and committing a staggering 26 turnovers. Despite shooting 48.7% from the field, including 18-for-45 from beyond the arc, their efforts fell short. Rookie Kyle Filipowski stood out with a double-double, contributing 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Currently sitting 14th in the Western Conference, the Jazz trail the 10th seed by 14.5 games. Offensively, they average 112.5 points per 100 possessions, ranking 18th in the NBA, while defensively, they allow 119.6 points per 100 possessions, placing them 29th in the league. Their shooting efficiency is middling, as they rank 16th in 2-point percentage (54.3%) and 18th in 3-point percentage (35.5%). These struggles highlight the challenges the team faces as they look to improve their standing in the competitive Western Conference.
Against Minnesota, OKC's second unit only scored 22 points. Despite only making six of his 21 field goals, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with 24 points and nine assists. Chet Holmgren recorded a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds, while Jalen Williams contributed 20 points.
The Thunder lead the Memphis Grizzlies by eight games and are well in the lead in the Western Conference. In the NBA, OKC is fifth with 118.3 points per 100 possessions and first with 105.4 points conceded. In terms of 3-point percentage (35.9%) and 2-point percentage (55.9%), the Thunder are ranked sixth and fifteenth in the league, respectively.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will next face the Timberwolves, Nets, and Hawks after defeating the Heat and losing to the Timberwolves. On 47.5 percent shooting, the Oklahoma City Thunder average 117.8 points, while on 43.1 percent shooting, they give up 104.9 points. Jalen Williams is averaging 21 points and 5.5 rebounds, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 32.5 points and 6.1 assists.
Isaiah Hartenstein is pulling down 11.9 rebounds, and Chet Holmgren is the third player to score in double figures. The Oklahoma City Thunder's shooting percentages are 82.2 percent from the free throw line and 35.9 percent from beyond the arc. The Oklahoma City Thunder pull down 44.6 rebounds per game while giving up 33 percent of long-range shots.
The Utah Jazz will next face the Rockets, Trail Blazers, and Kings after losing to the Clippers and splitting with the Lakers. On 45.9 percent shooting, the Utah Jazz average 112.3 points, while on 47.7 percent shooting, they give up 119.4 points. Collin Sexton averages 18.3 points and 2.9 rebounds, while Lauri Markkanen averages 19.6 points and 6.1 rebounds.
Jordan Clarkson is handing out 3.9 assists, while John Collins is the third player to score in double figures. The Utah Jazz are shooting 79.2 percent from the free-throw line and 35.5 percent from beyond the arc. The Utah Jazz are collecting 45.5 rebounds per game and giving up 35.8 percent of long-range shots.
