Thunder Game Day: OKC Looks to Continue Hot Streak in Utah

After a double overtime thriller against the Toronto Raptors, the Oklahoma City Thunder are set to face off against the Utah Jazz Tuesday night.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are still recovering from a wild Sunday night.

A 135-127 win over the Toronto Raptors required two double overtime periods, resulting in a thrilling game that took everything it had to come out of on top. 

Even though it happened in a less fortunate way, the win gives the Thunder possession of the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference alongside the Minnesota Timberwolves. 

Next up is the Utah Jazz.

The Jazz had a much improved month in January, hovering around a .500 record and maintaining a Play-In Tournament spot. Lauri Markkanen has been excellent, but his supporting cast has also been relatively strong. 

Oklahoma City has Utah’s book with a 2-0 advantage over it this season, but it should still be a competitive matchup between both teams.

Jan 18, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton (2) protects the ball from Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22) during the second half at Delta Center / © Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports

ODDS:

The Thunder enter the day as two-point favorites against the Jazz, and the total over/under is 243.5 points.

KEYS TO THE GAME:

Through the two games the Thunder and Jazz have met in this season, the former has gained the latter's number on both occasions. 

Granted Markkanen was out for the first game – where Oklahoma City won 134-120 – but even with him, the Thunder pulled out a 134-129 victory off the backs of a combined 58-point effort from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. 

Utah's offense has held up its own in both games, scoring at least 20 points on each occasion. Players such as Collin Sexton and John Collins have given Oklahoma City troubles especially, but they'll have to be kept to a lower bar Tuesday night if the Thunder want to continue to stay undefeated against the Jazz. 

Without Williams, defending Markkanen will also be considerably more difficult to maintain. Rookie Chet Holmgren will have his hands full with that assignment as well as Collins, so other interior defenders off the Oklahoma City bench will have to be able to make an impact. 

RECORDS:

Oklahoma City Thunder (35-15) vs. Utah Jazz (25-26)

INJURIES:

Check out our live injury tracker, along with our game day injury report that will release later today.

WHEN:

Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024 at 8:00 PM CT

LOCATION:

Delta Center - Salt Lake City, Utah

TV/RADIO:

Bally Sports Oklahoma, NBA League Pass, 98.1 FM The Sports Animal

Live Stream: fuboTV (Start Your Free Trial)

FINAL WORD: 

The Thunder know what has to be done to defeat the Jazz – as shown in their last two matchups – so gaining its fourth straight victory tonight shouldn't be considerably difficult. However, the absence of Williams may finally give it legitimate problems. 

Oklahoma City will have a long three-day break before facing the Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving-led Dallas Mavericks on Saturday, Feb. 10 at 2:00 p.m. CT in American Airlines Center. 

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