Utah Jazz vs Oklahoma City Thunder: Game Thread

The Utah Jazz play another road game against a West playoff team this afternoon, tipping off against the Oklahoma City Thunder in a few minutes. One of these teams is super healthy. The other? Hanging in there.

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Team Breakdown:

The Thunder won a huge game against the San Antonio Spurs, snapping a four game losing streak. I am happy they did because I wouldn't want to face Westbrook and company in their gym when they are on a five game losing streak. Hopefully that emotional victor took some pressure off, and they will 'relax' a bit, if that's possible. I do not actually know if that is possible, as they are in the middle of the playoff seeding race in the Eat or be Eaten Western Conference. That's the same driving motivation for Utah as well, who have won four in a row - including their last win, a very solid road win against the #3 seed Houston. This makes me believe the Jazz can beat good West teams on the road more often than that fluke win against San Antone in Texas back in the beginning of the season.

Utah is not good in OKC, they have lost 10 straight, and Westbrook has the Jazz' number right now -- as a lot of point guards do. This is a big game, not just because UTA, LAC, OKC, MEM, DEN, and POR are all playing tonight. It's big because the Thunder have the 2-1 lead in the season series. A win this afternoon gives them the tie-breaker. Which is dumb. I get it. But the Jazz beat the Thunder by 20 in their victory. They have two losses against the Thunder, a 2 point loss and a 1 point loss.

If you add it up it doesn't look like a 2-1 series lead for OKC. Oh well.

The Thunder seem to be making things 'normal' again after their trade to bring in Taj. Russell Westbrook is the driving force still, and he has some nice bigmen to help him out like Adams, Gibson, Enes Kanter, and Domantas Sabonis. Kinda wish Derrick was healthy enough to run with the team. Hope Boris Diaw plays well tonight. Man.

Anyway, it should be a frightening game for Jazz fans.

Fan Map:

Somehow I doubt these fans are "active" fans.

Assumed Starters:

• PG: George Hill vs. Russell Westbrook
  
• SG: Rodney Hood vs. Victor Oladipo
  
• SF: Gordon Hayward vs. Andre Roberson
  
• PF: Joe Johnson vs. Taj Gibson
  
• C: Rudy Gobert vs. Steven Adams
  

Injuries / Absences:

• PG: George Hill (UTA, Will play); Shelvin Mack (UTA, OUT)
  
• SG:
• SF: Josh Huestis (OKC, NBADL)
  
• PF: Derrick Favors (UTA, OUT); Joel Bolomboy (UTA, recalled from NBADL)
  
• C:
  

GO JAZZ GO!