After three losses in a row, and the fear of seeing the Mavericks sting them for 10th place, the Thunder revived by winning 114-98 in Utah. Facing the Jazz C team, OKC waited until the end of the 1st quarter to sign a first “run” (7-0) thanks to the skill of Jalen Williams and the aggressiveness of the SGA-Giddey tandem (29 -22). OKC is launched, and Isaiah Joe is responsible for driving the point home with a 36 points at the buzzer (32-25).
OKC can then unfold their basketball with substitutes who bring a lot like Dario Saric and Aaron Wiggins. The Thunder break away to lead by fifteen points. Opposite, Kris Dunn and Kelly Olynyk have things to prove, and they relaunch their formation, to the point that there are only three points left at the break (55-52).
Several times, Utah will come back to a small point difference but the Thunder resist, and as in the 1st period, it is the substitutes who make the difference with a 14-0 straddling the two quarters. We find again the duo Saric-Wiggins to make the difference, and the Thunder escapes for good (94-76). Johnny Juzang may show himself, the Thunder holds the right end, and wins by 16 points (114-98).
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
The Jazz area. It was thanks to a 1-3-1 zone that Utah tried to disrupt the Thunder. The transmission of the ball and access to the circle are complicated, but on the other hand, it gives boulevards as soon as the shift is made, and above all it offers a lot of rebounds to the opponents. OKC multiplied the baskets as a “second chance”.
OKC has one foot in the play-in. After three defeats in a row, the Thunder are breathing better, and they have their destiny in their hands more than ever. A victory Sunday, in the last game, against the Grizzlies, and it will be the play-in. On the Dallas side, you have to win everything and hope that the Thunder lose to the Grizzlies.
TOPS & FLOPS
✅ The Thunder bench. The Thunder’s “Little Big Three” were not having a great night, and it was the bench, on two “runs”, which made the difference with a double-double from Dario Saric and Aaron’s opportunism Wiggins. The bench scored 49 points!
✅ Kris Dunn. It is the revelation of this end of the season, and he should find a contract next season as he has progressed in the management of the game and his selection of shots. 22 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds at 90% shooting!
⛔Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He didn’t like that area that kept him from going to the circle, nor Dunn’s pot-of-glue defense on other sequences.
THE FOLLOWING
Utah (36-44) : Saturday reception of the Nuggets.
OKC (39-42) : Sunday reception of Memphis to go to the play-in.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D= defensive rebound; T = Total Bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Points = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
