Oklahoma City Thunder

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Ryan Kostecka

Down your top two scorers on the road against the best team in the Western Conference, and the game being the front end of a back-to-back, the Jazz knew it would take a gargantuan effort to pull off the victory.&nbsp;

For most of the game, Utah went toe-to-toe with the Thunder as Collin Sexton kept coming and coming. However, the Jazz ran out of steam in the fourth quarter before falling 119-107 to Oklahoma City on Wednesday night.&nbsp;

"I thought we played like 42 good minutes tonight," head coach Will Hardy said. "I was really proud of the team's effort and competitiveness. … We just had a stretch of the game that got away from us. Credit to Oklahoma City, they're as good of a team as we've seen this year. … They deserve credit for the win."

Now in his sixth season in the NBA, Sexton has seen nearly every defense the league has to offer — yet, for whatever reason, he enjoys facing the Thunder. In his nine career games against Oklahoma City, Sexton is averaging 23.1 points on 50/42/84 shooting splits, which is by far the best numbers he's posted against any opponent.&nbsp;

Down 12 early in the opening minutes, Sexton came off the bench and immediately made his presence felt. He dropped 13 points, five assists, and four rebounds in 14 first-half minutes as the Jazz retook the lead at the break.&nbsp;

He was just as good in the second half, emerging as Utah's go-to scorer whenever they needed a bucket. His ability to get to the rim at will forced the Thunder to back off him, allowing Sexton to fire jumper after jumper in rhythm. The result was a season-high in points off the bench with 25, adding seven assists and five rebounds.&nbsp;

"He's made such big strides this season in terms of his reading of the defense and understanding of how he's being guarded, how the team's being guarded," Hardy said of Sexton. "I felt like when he kind of turned the corner, and all the discussion started happening about his playmaking, he was doing a really good job in between the games of making adjustments, seeing things, watching film, and learning. Now we are seeing him have the ability to do it in a game… I think that's the next level for him."

Throughout the season, it's clear that one of Utah's biggest strengths was its depth. With Hardy electing to play a 10-man rotation for much of the year, the Jazz had taken advantage of that depth by getting excellent play from its second unit. Jordan Clarkson has been a talented scorer off the bench, but with him and Lauri Markkanen watching Wednesday's game from the sidelines, Utah needed different guys to step up.&nbsp;

Sexton has taken over Clarkson's role as scorer and facilitator within the second unit, averaging 23.7 points per game over his past three since coming off the bench. Still, Utah would need more than Sexton to keep pace with the highest-scoring offense in the West.

Johnny Juzang answered the call, continuing his recent stretch of good shooting. He finished with nine points (all in the first half) on 3-of-6 shooting from deep and is now averaging 9.6 points on 43.8% shooting from three in March. For what it's worth, March has always been a special month for Juzang after he went from the First Four to the Final Four during UCLA's magical run at the 2021 NCAA Tournament.&nbsp;

Overall, Utah's bench outscored Oklahoma City 61-21 while holding a +5 advantage in assists and a +12 advantage on the glass. 

All season long, Hardy has pushed for his team to share the ball more — and the Jazz obliged on Wednesday. Although it wasn't the most assists they've had on the season, the Jazz continued an impressive streak when Kira Lewis Jr. found Omer Yurtseven for a 7-footer with 2:52 left in the game. That assist was Utah's 20th of the night, running Utah's streak to 88 consecutive games with 20+ assists. Not only is that the longest streak in franchise history, it's the third-longest active streak in the league behind San Antonio (127) and Indiana (123).

"I think there are far more positives from tonight's game than negatives," Hardy said. "I thought the first half was probably as good of a half of basketball as we've played in a while, which shows some growth and maturity from the team. … I think tonight was a really good example of progress from the team."

John Collins finished with 16 points and six rebounds, while Taylor Hendricks chipped in 12 points, four rebounds, and three blocks. Despite an off shooting night, Keyonte George finished with nine points, seven rebounds, and two assists.

The Jazz return to action on Thursday night when they face Luka Doncic and the Mavericks. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. MST.

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"Got Away From Us" — Despite Sexton's Season-High Off the Bench, Jazz Fall to Top-Ranked Thunder

Jeremy Rincon

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Highlights: Collin Sexton – 25 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds

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Highlights: Jazz 107 | Thunder 119

Another game in the clutch. Another Jazz victory.&nbsp;

When it mattered most, the Jazz rose to the occasion on both ends of the court. Utah ended the game on a 12-4 run to take down the Western Conference’s top seed, securing the 124-117 victory over Oklahoma City on Tuesday night. With the win, the Jazz stayed in the final spot in the play-in tournament and opened up a 1.5-game lead over Golden State. 

“Another night where they made some threes, some pick-and-pop threes, and it didn’t feel good,” head coach Will Hardy said. “But the guys, again understanding that the key to the game was protecting the paint, stuck with it. … It allowed us to hang around. Then we had a bunch of guys on the offensive side play really well. Six guys in double figures, credit to the whole team.”

Here are five things to know following the win

Coming down to the wire on Tuesday night, fans were treated to the two best clutch teams in the league putting on a show. Clutch minutes in the NBA are minutes played when the scoring margin is within five points with five or fewer minutes remaining in a game. Utah is 11-8 in the clutch this season with the No. 2 ranked clutch offense. The only team better? Their opponent. Oklahoma City was 16-10 in the clutch this year, boasting the league’s top clutch offense. 

Jalen Williams knocked down a three to give the Thunder a 113-112 lead with 3:54 left in the game. But that’s when the Jazz got cooking.&nbsp;

Walker Kessler finished with a dunk on the ensuing possession, giving Utah a lead they wouldn’t relinquish the rest of the way. Leading by four with just under a minute to go, Lauri Markkanen put the nail in the coffin, taking a pass from Kessler before drilling the wing three for the seven-point lead. Keyonte George was also massive down the stretch, knocking down two threes in the final minutes.

To say Tuesday night was a team effort might be underselling what the Jazz did collectively in the victory over the Thunder. Six players finished in double figures, seven players finished with at least two assists, and five players grabbed at least four rebounds.

Markkanen was sensational, finishing with a double-double and looking like the best player on the court for much of the night. He ended with 33 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 12-of-18 from the floor and 5-of-7 from three. His physicality and versatility were on full display, taking advantage of mismatches to score 17 points in the third quarter before hitting the dagger three late. 

Much like Markkanen, John Collins also shined. The Thunder struggled against his combination of strength and athleticism, as he finished with 22 points and nine rebounds. Collin Sexton added 14 points, while Kris Dunn finished with eight points, five assists, four steals, three rebounds, and three blocks. 

George led the second unit with 16 points (4-of-6 from three) and five assists, while Jordan Clarkson chipped in 12 points. Kelly Olynyk added 10 points, seven assists, and four rebounds, while Kessler added four points, nine rebounds, and three blocks.&nbsp;

Utah trailed 92-82 with 4:14 left in the third quarter following a Lu Dort three for the Thunder. More importantly, the crowd was quiet as Oklahoma City looked poised to break the game open. 

But as they’ve done over and over again — and most recently, two nights ago against Milwaukee — the Jazz never quit. Back-to-back buckets by Keyonte George ignited the home crowd, and it was just the beginning. Utah ended the quarter on a 14-0 run to take a 96-92 lead heading to the fourth quarter. 

The lineup of George, Clarkson, Dunn, Markkanen, and Kessler allowed the Jazz to spread the floor on offense while staying big on defense. Kessler and Dunn were dominant on the defensive end, especially against Gilgeous-Alexander. With Dunn hounding him everywhere he went, Kessler roamed the backline, contesting shots and grabbing rebounds. 

“We turned in a defensive performance tonight where they had 36 points in the paint, only eight in the second half,” Hardy said. “I thought our awareness in the second half, to Shai in particular, was much better as a group. I thought Kris Dunn had some magnificent moments one-on-one, but it’s not just about Kris. … I thought his teammates did a much better job in the second half of their recognition and shifting to help Kris in certain moments.”

“But he (Dunn) did an amazing job in the second half on Shai.”

If there was one part of the game where the Jazz could exert their will over the Thunder, it would come on the glass.&nbsp;

Entering Tuesday, Utah was one of the top rebounding teams in the league, averaging 46.6 (2nd in the NBA) total rebounds and 12.7 (3rd in the NBA) offensive boards per game. They grabbed 33.3% of their missed shots per game, second-best in the league. Likewise, Oklahoma City has struggled on the glass, averaging 41.6 (26th) total rebounds per game. They’ve struggled on the defensive glass, grabbing 68.2% of missed shots (29th in the league). 

Utah attacked the glass relentlessly all night, outrebounding the Thunder 48-32. The Jazz grabbed 15 offensive rebounds — three more than their average — and finished with a 19-9 advantage in second-chance points. Led by Markkanen’s 11 rebounds, three players finished with at least nine. 

There was a lot of star power on the court Tuesday night.&nbsp;

Markkanen, fresh off winning the Most Improved Player of the Year award, will be heading to Indianapolis for All-Star Weekend to compete in the three-point contest. Oklahoma City guard Gilgeous-Alexander will be there as well, being named a Western Conference starter for the All-Star Game.

Both teams will also be exceptionally well represented during the Rising Stars game. Utah will have rookie George and Kessler playing, while Chet Holmgren, Williams, and Cason Wallace will be suiting up for Oklahoma City. Kessler and Williams played in the game last year, were named to the All-Rookie first team, and finished in the top three for Rookie of the Year voting. 

George has come on strong as of late for the Jazz, averaging 15.3 points over his last six games. Meanwhile, Holmgren is one of two frontrunners for this year’s Rookie of the Year award, while Wallace is one of the best defensive guards in the rookie class.

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"Hang Around" — 5 Things to Know Following Utah's Victory Over Oklahoma City

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Highlights: John Collins – 22 points, 9 rebounds, 1 block

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Highlights: Thunder 117 | Jazz 124

Despite a valiant effort, Utah’s six-game winning streak ended on Thursday night.&nbsp;

In a back-and-forth affair that had Delta Center rocking for most of the night, the Jazz couldn’t get over the hump and fell 134-129 to Oklahoma City. With the loss, Utah sits at 22-21 on the year and in 9th place in the Western Conference.&nbsp;

“That was a hard-fought game against a really good team,” head coach Will Hardy said. “They (OKC) made some tough plays down the stretch — the turnaround Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander) hit late in the game was a big shot — but that’s the breaks of the game. I feel like for the most part in the second half, our team was really tuned into what we were trying to do on both ends of the ball. … I was really proud of that effort.”

Here are five things to know following the loss.

1.) Something to ProveBoth teams entered Thursday night with something to prove. 

Oklahoma City was coming off back-to-back tough losses to the Lakers and Clippers, and needed a win to get the vibes back before a massive showdown with the West’s one-seeded Minnesota on Saturday night.

The Jazz showed off their toughness and resilience throughout the night, taking every Thunder punch and refusing to go down. I know Hardy and the team don’t believe in moral victories, but Thursday showed that Utah can compete with the best in the West.&nbsp;

2.) Team EffortFacing an angry Oklahoma City team on Thursday night, Utah knew it would take a monumental effort to take down the Thunder. 

Collin Sexton was sensational on Thursday, leading five Jazz in double figures with 31 points while adding seven assists. He changed the game with his ability to beat his man off the dribble and force the Thunder to rotate. That’s where he showed his maturation, staying under control and finding the open man.&nbsp;

Despite facing double teams nearly every time he touched the ball, Lauri Markkanen finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists on another efficient night. John Collins was also very good, using his strength and athleticism to overpower Thunder center Chet Holmgren in the paint. Collins finished with 21 points and four rebounds.

Simone Fontecchio added 12 points and five rebounds, while Jordan Clarkson paced the bench unit with 18 points and five assists. Walker Kessler was excellent defensively, finishing with 11 rebounds, seven points, and three blocks.&nbsp;

“The biggest difference in the two halves for me was the attention to detail,” Hardy said. “I thought offensively, our team moved the ball well for the majority of the game. I have no gripes on that side of the ball. … I thought our team did a good job playing physical and getting to the free throw line.”

3.) Battle of the BoardsThe battle between the Jazz and Thunder on Thursday featured one of the best rebounding teams in the league against one of the worst. 

Utah entered the night No. 2 in total rebounds (46.2), No. 3 in offensive rebounds (12.8), and No. 7 in defensive rebounds (33.9). Likewise, Oklahoma City was No. 28 in total rebounds (41.1), No. 29 in offensive rebounds (8.4), and No. 16 in defensive rebounds (32.8)

If the Jazz were going to pull off the upset, they would have to do it on the glass.&nbsp;

On a night that featured a lot of offense and impressive shotmaking, the teams finished with 38 rebounds. The Jazz did hold the advantage on the offensive glass, outrebounding the Thunder 11-7 and outscoring them 26-15 in second-chance points.

4.) Second Quarter SurgeAfter a forgettable first quarter saw the Jazz trailing by 12, the opening minutes of the second weren’t much better. 

Oklahoma City looked like one of the best teams in the league in the first 18 minutes, jumping out to a 58-43 lead and looking very close to blowing it open. But as this Jazz team has proven all season, they’re a resilient group that won’t go down without a fight.&nbsp;

Trailing by 14 with 4:24 remaining in the half, Utah mounted an 11-0 run to close the gap and bring Delta Center to life. Clarkson, Markkanen, and Collins did all the damage by combining for 11 points, but Sexton was instrumental as well. His ability to beat the Thunder at the point of attack, get into the paint, and deliver helped change the momentum of the game.&nbsp;

Although Oklahoma City would end the half with a three-pointer by Chet Holmgren, Utah’s ability to fight back was something to note.

“I thought the response from our team was great,” Hardy said. “It’s what we’ve talked about even in the games we were winning. … These games are long. You let your foot off the gas, and things can really go south in a moment. I don’t question the fight of our team. … I wouldn’t trade our team for anybody else.”

5.) JC Meets With FanThere’s a reason Clarkson is beloved by Jazz Nation — and he showed why on Thursday night. 

After a recent post went viral of a young Jazz fan not being able to take her sign into Monday’s game against the Pacers — the NBA prohibits signs bigger than 11”x17” being allowed into arenas — Clarkson made sure to give her and her family a memory they’ll cherish forever.&nbsp;

Clarkson provided the family tickets for Thursday’s showdown with Oklahoma City. He also went a step further, inviting them to sit courtside for warmups. Once finished with his own pregame warmups, Clarkson shared a special moment with the little girl and her parents.&nbsp;

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"Attention to Detail" — Utah Takes Oklahoma City Down to the Wire Before Coming up Just Short

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Highlights: Lauri Markkanen – 26 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists

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