Jazz Face Thunder In Potential Playoff Preview

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz travel to the Oklahoma City to face the Thunder in a potential playoff preview. If the playoff began today, the two teams would face one another, with the series starting in Salt Lake City.

The Thunder have been one of the league’s surprise teams this season after trading both Russell Westbrook and Paul George during the off season. Oklahoma City was expected to be entering a long term rebuild, with guard Chris Paul and forward Danilo Gallinari be dangled as trade pieces throughout the season.

Instead, the Thunder’s veteran pieces have blended seamlessly with second year-guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and have become a dark horse to play spoiler in the first round the playoffs.

Donovan Mitchell going to the rim with a purpose #TakeNote #utahjazz https://t.co/mswkFuB8kZ pic.twitter.com/3stkyAWBW3

— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) October 24, 2019

The Thunder have one of the league’s most balanced scoring attacks, with Gilgeous-Alexander leading the team at 19.3 points per game. Gallinari averages 19.2 points per game, while sixth-man Dennis Schroder adds 19 points of his own.

The Jazz and Thunder are separated by just one game in the playoff standings, with two games remaining in the regular season series to determine the tiebreaker. The two teams have split the series first two game this season, both played in Utah, with the Jazz beating the Thunder in the home opener 100-95, before losing in early December 104-90.

While the two previous meetings may determine playoff seeding, they may not be a accurate portrayal of how the two teams would match up in a post season series. The Jazz made radical changes to their roster in late December acquiring guard Jordan Clarkson from the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Dante Exum. In their last meeting, reserve Jazz guard Emmanuel Mudiay scored two points in 17 minutes while backup center Ed Davis went scoreless in 12 minutes.

Clarkson has absorbed all of Mudiay’s minutes, while third-year center Tony Bradley has replaced Davis in the rotation.

The Thunder meanwhile have seen a dramatic improvement in play since the teams last met. Oklahoma City is 29-12 since December 9, winning games at a .707 pace. Spread out over a season, the Thunder’s current clip would be equal to that of a 58 win team.

Both teams have experienced success on recent Eastern Conference road swings. The won four straight road teams on the East Coast before snapping a five game win streak against the Toronto Raptors Monday night in Utah. The Thunder are winners have three straight, including an impressive win against the Boston Celtics in Boston.

Nope that's our ball. #DennisSchröder | #6thman pic.twitter.com/8wzuzEAZgs

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) March 9, 2020

The Thunder will enter the game well rested having last played Sunday, while the Jazz will be playing their seventh game in the seventh different city over the last 13 days.

Gilgeous-Alexander missed the the Thunder victory over the Celtics and is considered day-to-day with a hip injury but is expected to suit up against the Jazz.

The Jazz and Thunder tip-off at 6 p.m. MST at Chesapeake Energy Arena, the game will be broadcast on AT&T SportsNet.