Utah Jazz at Oklahoma City Thunder Game Thread: Expect Free Throws

Tonight the Utah Jazz continue on their three game road trip, with tonight being the first of a double header. The Jazz play the Houston Rockets tomorrow, but tonight get the Oklahoma City Thunder. OKC was supposed to be a big deal this season, but injuries slowed their start -- for them it's more about making the playoffs and seeing what they can do there, instead of being a Top 4 team. Regardless, they're going to need 50 wins to get there, and we looked into that possibility in the game preview.

The Utah Jazz are still going to be without Alec Burks, Enes Kanter, and Rodney Hood. And they are only 26-59 on the road against the Sonics/Thunder. It doesn't look good as we're on the road, out gunned, and missing starters. Well, that was the case against the Chicago Bulls. It may very well be a closer game than what we see on paper. After all, OKC isn't invincible.

Starters:

• Point Guard: Trey Burke vs. Russell Westbrook
• Shooting Guard: Joe Ingles vs. Andre Roberson
• Small Forward: Gordon Hayward vs. Kevin Durant
• Power Forward: Derrick Favors vs. Serge Ibaka
• Center: Rudy Gobert vs. Steven Adams

Bench:

• Dante Exum vs. Reggie Jackson
• Trevor Booker vs. Nick Collison
• NBA D-League SGs vs. Anthony Morrow

OKC is tough on paper. And will be tough on the glass tonight. They don't give up a lot of offensive rebounds, and they attack the glass after each of their misses. This is a strength vs. strength thing because that's how the Jazz play as well. The stars will get the foul calls, but the battle will be won (or lost) on the glass.

GO JAZZ GO!