Game 52: Utah Jazz (25-26) vs Oklahoma City Thunder (35-15)

[Inigo Montoya]

It would be nice to beat the Thunder at least once this season, and we need to stay close the the Lakers who are on a hot streak.

[FJS]

We need to win one to be at 50%... then we play @Suns, then GSW, Lakers and GSW... and those 3 are pivotal to be in the play in at least.
Last time we were close...

[FJS]

team logo
Oklahoma City
Player Position Updated Injury Injury Status
Isaiah Joe SG Mon, Feb 5 Chest Expected to be out until at least Feb 10
Jaylin Williams PF Mon, Feb 5 Achilles Game Time Decision
Lindy Waters III SG Mon, Feb 5 Ankle Game Time Decision
Davis Bertans SF Mon, Feb 5 Knee Game Time Decision
Ousmane Dieng SF Mon, Feb 5 Hip Game Time Decision
Vasilije Micic PG Mon, Feb 5 Ankle Game Time Decision
Tre Mann PG Sun, Feb 4 Personal Game Time Decision
Jalen Williams SF Sun, Feb 4 Ankle Game Time Decision
Cason Wallace PG Sun, Feb 4 Shoulder Game Time Decision

I guess they will play... if not they are depleted.

[AGE1207]

Well, we got the W and back to 0.500 - not bad

[FJS]

This was an awesome game.
We began well, then when Dunn went to the bench, Shai and the Thunder got their run.
Hardy tried some thing that didn't work (Samanic) and tried to run his habitual rotation until he realized this was not gonna work. He sticked with Dunn on Shai, and after he watched Clarkson and Sexton were in one of those nights, he benched them. George, alongside Dunn, is better, because they complement each other. Well, Clarkson, Sexton and George are all offense, no deffense, and Dunn is all deffense and cannot shoot. When you pair two of the 1st 3 together is a disaster... They need the ball, and sometimes they turn their shoots and forget Lauri is on the floor.
Props to Collins too, because he was working to maintain us in the game with his scoring, and of course Kessler, who needs to play more time if we want to play winning basketball.

[PaKii94]

When they go to Lauri the team is dominant. Of course they don't go consistently to Lauri.

At least hardy is smart enough to realize that George + Dunn is the better pairing to close. KG is looking good. Developing some seasoning. I hope a two man game of KG and Lauri develops. It can be lethal

[red4hf]

Great game by the Jazz, I have to say...... Built a lead, lost a lead, got down by double digits, fought back and won...... Laurie was great, so was Keyonte, and Collins was important as well..... Dunn was very good as well......

[Crunch 99]

IIRC, Dunn had his best pre-season game playing alongside KG, but we haven't seen them play together much since. Last night they played the last 7:15 together and the Jazz went +3. Dunn didn't score any points, but he played defense and had an OREB, AST, STEAL and BLOCK in the last 7:15.

Walker was on the floor for that closing stretch as well. Defensive minded Walker and Dunn surrounded by shooters looked like a pretty good closing lineup.

[Crunch 99]

KG played the entire Q4 and played well. The last time I praised KG, early in the season, he began a long shooting slump the very next game, so I don't want to say too much this time. Coach keeps playing him in Q4s, regardless of how he is shooting. I think it was Inigo that said the rookie must be showing out more frequently in practice than he is in games to earn this ongoing confidence from coach.

[TNJazz]

Great game by the Jazz, I have to say...... Built a lead, lost a lead, got down by double digits, fought back and won...... Laurie was great, so was Keyonte, and Collins was important as well..... Dunn was very good as well......

Olynyk was also terrific in the middle of the game, he was making big plays during the run in the 3rd.