Game ID: 22300581
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Utah Jazz
Thursday, January 18, 2024 at 9:00 PM ET
Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
UTA 27 40 28 34 129OKC 39 37 22 36 134
OKC @ UTA ScoutingOKC @ UTA Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
UTA availability going into 1/10 · 1 day's restOUT Hendricks missed 7 since 12/28, returns tonight: 3 min (15% of 21)
OUT Horton-Tucker missed 2 since 1/06, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 12 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 7 since 12/28, returns tonight: 3 min (18% of 18)
OUT Potter missed 12 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Yurtseven missed 2 since 1/06, returns tonight: 3 min (29% of 11)
NEW Fontecchio 23 to 31 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 1/12 · 1 day's restOUT Horton-Tucker missed 3 since 1/06, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 13 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 13 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Hendricks back 1/10 after 7, 3 min since (15% of 21)
BACK Sensabaugh back 1/10 after 7, 3 min since (18% of 18)
BACK Yurtseven back 1/10 after 2, 3 min since (29% of 11)
NEW Fontecchio 23 to 29 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 1/13 · back-to-backOUT Horton-Tucker missed 4 since 1/06, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 14 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 14 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Hendricks back 1/10 after 7, 3 min since (16% of 21)
BACK Sensabaugh back 1/10 after 7, 3 min since (19% of 18)
BACK Yurtseven back 1/10 after 2, 4 min since (37% of 11)
UTA availability going into 1/15 · 1 day's restOUT Horton-Tucker missed 5 since 1/06, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 15 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 15 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Hendricks back 1/10 after 7, 3 min since (16% of 21)
BACK Sensabaugh back 1/10 after 7, 3 min since (19% of 18)
BACK Yurtseven back 1/10 after 2, 4 min since (37% of 11)
UTA availability going into 1/18 · 2 days' restOUT Hendricks missed 2 since 1/13, out tonight
OUT Horton-Tucker missed 6 since 1/06, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 16 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 2 since 1/13, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 16 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Yurtseven back 1/10 after 2, 4 min since (33% of 11)
UTA availability going into 1/20 · 1 day's restOUT Hendricks missed 3 since 1/13, out tonight
OUT Horton-Tucker missed 7 since 1/06, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 17 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 3 since 1/13, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 17 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Yurtseven back 1/10 after 2, 4 min since (33% of 11)
UTA availability going into 1/23 · 2 days' restOUT Hendricks missed 4 since 1/13, out tonight
OUT Horton-Tucker missed 8 since 1/06, returns tonight: 8 min (41% of 20)
OUT Juzang missed 18 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 4 since 1/13, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 18 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Yurtseven missed 2 since 1/18, out tonight
UTA availability going into 1/25 · 1 day's restOUT Hendricks missed 5 since 1/13, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 19 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 5 since 1/13, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 19 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Yurtseven missed 3 since 1/18, returns tonight: 1 min (9% of 11)
BACK Horton-Tucker back 1/23 after 8, 8 min since (41% of 20)
UTA availability going into 1/27 · 1 day's restOUT Hendricks missed 6 since 1/13, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 20 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 6 since 1/13, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 20 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Horton-Tucker back 1/23 after 8, 8 min since (41% of 20)
BACK Yurtseven back 1/25 after 3, 1 min since (9% of 11)
OKC availability going into 1/11 · back-to-backOUT Dieng missed 9 since 12/26, returns tonight: 23 min (225% of 10)
OKC availability going into 1/13 · 1 day's restBACK Dieng back 1/11 after 9, 23 min since (225% of 10)
OKC availability going into 1/15 · 1 day's restBACK Dieng back 1/11 after 9, 16 min since (154% of 10)
OKC availability going into 1/16 · back-to-backBACK Dieng back 1/11 after 9, 15 min since (144% of 10)
OKC availability going into 1/18 · 1 day's restBACK Dieng back 1/11 after 9, 12 min since (118% of 10)
OKC availability going into 1/20 · 1 day's restBACK Dieng back 1/11 after 9, 12 min since (118% of 10)
OKC availability going into 1/23 · 2 days' restOUT Dieng missed 2 since 1/18, out tonight
OKC availability going into 1/24 · back-to-backOUT Dieng missed 3 since 1/18, out tonight
OKC availability going into 1/26 · 1 day's restOUT Dieng missed 4 since 1/18, out tonight
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 133 a night and allowing 114, shooting 53 percent and 42 from three, 29 free throws a game; Markkanen at 26 and Sexton at 24 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Hendricks (2 straight), Horton-Tucker (6 straight), Juzang (16 straight). 2 days' rest. OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 107, shooting 51 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 28 and Jal. Williams at 21 a game. One day's rest.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-11 a night and OKC plus-2 and the line, where Utah takes 29 free throws a game to OKC's 18. Call it Utah 119, OKC 117, OKC keeping it close.
1/10 vs DEN 124-111 — UTA notes
UTA won 124-111. UTA shot 55% (46 of 83) to DEN's 46%, 13 of 33 from three. Clarkson led with 27 (12 of 19, 3 of 8 from three); Markkanen added 26, Sexton 22. The hinge was Q1, 35-24: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 25. Markkanen was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
1/12 vs TOR 145-113 — UTA notes
UTA won 145-113. UTA shot 56% (52 of 93) to TOR's 43%, 21 of 43 from three, and got to the line 26 times to TOR's 37. The glass went 56-31 for them. Markkanen led with 22 (7 of 11, 4 of 6 from three); Clarkson added 21, Sexton 20. The hinge was Q2, 36-22: a lead of 3 became 17, and the lead reached 35. Markkanen was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
1/13 vs LAL 132-125 — UTA notes
UTA won 132-125. UTA shot 45% (42 of 93) to LAL's 50%, 12 of 37 from three, and went to the line 39 times to LAL's 24 — 36 points from the stripe to their 20. The glass went 52-40 for them. Markkanen led with 29 (8 of 16, 3 of 6 from three, 10 of 11 at the line); Sexton added 27, Clarkson 21. The hinge was Q3, 36-28: UTA came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 5. UTA trailed 64-67 at the half and won the second half 68-58. Collins was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
1/15 vs IND 132-105 — UTA notes
UTA won 132-105. UTA shot 56% (45 of 81) to IND's 40%, 11 of 25 from three, and went to the line 35 times to IND's 25 — 31 points from the stripe to their 20. Markkanen led with 32 (10 of 15, 2 of 4 from three, 10 of 10 at the line); Sexton added 30, George 19. The hinge was Q3, 41-29: a lead of 14 became 26, and the lead reached 29. Markkanen was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
1/18 vs OKC 129-134 — UTA notes
UTA lost 129-134. UTA shot 48% (43 of 89) to OKC's 56%, 13 of 32 from three, and went to the line 36 times to OKC's 28 — 30 points from the stripe to their 24. Sexton led with 31 (10 of 19, 4 of 7 from three, 7 of 10 at the line); Markkanen added 26, Collins 21. Q3 was theirs, 28-22, the deficit cut from 9 to 3, but the other 3 periods went 112-101 against them. Collins's -19 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/20 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 122, shooting 45 percent and 26 from three, 25 free throws a game; Sengun at 22 and Ja. Green at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. 2 days' rest. Utah comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 132 a night and allowing 118, shooting 52 percent and 41 from three, 32 free throws a game; Markkanen at 27 and Sexton at 26 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Hendricks (3 straight), Horton-Tucker (7 straight), Juzang (17 straight). One day's rest.
So: Utah wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Utah at 41 percent from three to Houston's 26 and the glass, where Utah has been plus-9 a night and Houston minus-2. Call it Utah 120, Houston 116, Houston keeping it close.
1/23 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 119, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 29 free throws a game; Williamson at 24 and McCollum at 18 a game. 3 days' rest. Utah comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 133 a night and allowing 121, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 32 free throws a game; Sexton at 27 and Markkanen at 26 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Hendricks (4 straight), Horton-Tucker (8 straight), Juzang (18 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-9 a night and New Orleans minus-1 and the turnovers, Utah giving it away 14 times a game to New Orleans's 10. Call it New Orleans 120, Utah 119, Utah keeping it close.
1/25 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 121, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Bagley III at 18 and Kuzma at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 129 a night and allowing 129, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 33 free throws a game; Sexton at 28 and Markkanen at 24 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Hendricks (5 straight), Juzang (19 straight), Sensabaugh (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Utah wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Utah takes 33 free throws a game to Washington's 21 and the glass, where Utah has been minus-0 a night and Washington minus-6. Call it Utah 122, Washington 120, Washington keeping it close.
1/27 @ CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 119, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Bridges at 23 and Miller at 20 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 125, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 27 free throws a game; Sexton at 24 and Markkanen at 24 a game. Without Hendricks (6 straight), Juzang (20 straight), Sensabaugh (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Utah wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Utah takes 27 free throws a game to Charlotte's 20 and the defense, Charlotte allowing 119 a night to Utah's 125. Call it Utah 121, Charlotte 116.
1/11 vs POR 139-77 — OKC notes
OKC won 139-77. OKC shot 57% (53 of 93) to POR's 28%, 14 of 35 from three, and went to the line 22 times to POR's 16 — 19 points from the stripe to their 10. The glass went 59-42 for them. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 31 (11 of 15, 1 of 3 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Jal. Williams added 21, Holmgren 19. The hinge was Q3, 43-17: a lead of 36 became 62. Giddey was the night's best plus/minus at +46.
1/13 vs ORL 112-100 — OKC notes
OKC won 112-100. OKC shot 46% (43 of 94) to ORL's 46%, 8 of 36 from three. OKC turned it over 8 times to ORL's 15. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 37 (13 of 20, 0 of 4 from three, 11 of 12 at the line); Jal. Williams added 16, Holmgren 15. The hinge was Q2, 26-19: a lead of 2 became 9, and the lead reached 16. Giddey was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
1/15 @ LAL 105-112 — OKC notes
OKC lost 105-112. OKC took 12 more shots (96 to 84), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 42% to LAL's 52%, 15 of 49 from three, and got to the line just 11 times against 18 fouls committed. OKC turned it over 11 times to LAL's 17. Jal. Williams led with 25 (10 of 18, 2 of 4 from three); Gilgeous-Alexander added 24, Dort 11. Q2 was theirs, 24-23, the deficit cut from 1 to 0, but the other 3 periods went 89-81 against them. Gilgeous-Alexander's -12 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/16 @ LAC 117-128 — OKC notes
OKC lost 117-128. OKC shot 51% (42 of 83) to LAC's 54%, 16 of 34 from three. Jal. Williams led with 25 (10 of 14, 2 of 3 from three); Gilgeous-Alexander added 19, Dort 19. Q2 was theirs, 31-30, the deficit cut from 5 to 4, but the other 3 periods went 98-86 against them. Gilgeous-Alexander's -19 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/18 @ UTA 134-129 — OKC notes
OKC won 134-129. OKC shot 56% (48 of 86) to UTA's 48%, 14 of 32 from three, and got to the line 28 times to UTA's 36. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 31 (8 of 15, 15 of 17 at the line); Jal. Williams added 27, Giddey 20. The hinge was Q1, 39-27: from level to 12 ahead, and the lead reached 19. Jal. Williams was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
1/20 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 109, shooting 52 percent and 44 from three, 23 free throws a game; Edwards at 25 and Towns at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 28 and Jal. Williams at 23 a game. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the arc, Minnesota at 44 percent from three to OKC's 36. Call it Minnesota 115, OKC 114, OKC keeping it close.
1/23 vs POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 113, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 29 and Jal. Williams at 23 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 119, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Grant at 24 and Brogdon at 20 a game. Without Sharpe (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Portland has been minus-1 a night and OKC minus-5. Call it OKC 119, Portland 110.
1/24 @ SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 122, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 20 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 28 and Vassell at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest. OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 28 and Jal. Williams at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, OKC at 37 percent from three to San Antonio's 32 and the defense, OKC allowing 115 a night to San Antonio's 122. Call it OKC 118, San Antonio 116, San Antonio keeping it close.
1/26 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 118, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 28 free throws a game; McCollum at 23 and Williamson at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 115, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 25 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 30 and Jal. Williams at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-5 a night and OKC minus-2. Call it New Orleans 119, OKC 118, OKC keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
OKCAW A. Wiggins
CH C. Holmgren
CW C. Wallace
IJ I. Joe
JG J. Giddey
JW J. Williams
JW Jal. Williams
KW K. Williams
LW L. Waters III
MI Micic
SG S. Gilgeous-Alexander
VM V. Micić
UTACS C. Sexton
JC J. Clarkson
JC J. Collins
KD K. Dunn
KG K. George
KO K. Olynyk
LM L. Markkanen
OA O. Agbaji
SF S. Fontecchio
WK W. Kessler
OKC/UTA the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 31 points and Jalen Williams' big fourth quarter carry Thunder past Jazz
SALT LAKE CITY -- — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points, Jalen Williams had 11 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter and the Oklahoma City Thunder snapped the Utah Jazz’s six-game winning streak with a 134-129 victory Thursday night.
“We’re not feeling 100% and yet really competed for 48 minutes together on both ends against the hottest team in the league coming in,” Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said. “We probably didn’t have a fastball physically, but we had our fastball mentally and competitively.”
Williams, who shot 11 of 14, made four 3-pointers and has scored at least 25 points in three consecutive games.
“The guy lines up and guards a premier matchup every night tonight," Daigneault said. "And for him to be able to do that offensively and do that defensively is a very complete game. It’s very impressive.”
Williams asserts it's all about confidence.
“There was flow and it just has been been happening in the fourth quarter,” said Williams, who has been nicknamed ‘Fourth Quarter Dub.’
Cason Wallace scored a season-high 16 points and Josh Giddey had 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Thunder, who had 29 fast-break points.
"We try and play downhill. That's our identity," said Gilgeous-Alexander, who shot 15 of 17 from the line. “We run and we want to touch the paint whenever we can.”
Collin Sexton scored 31 and Lauri Markkanen added 26 for the Jazz, who had their nine-game home winning streak stopped. It came a day after the NBA postponed Utah's game scheduled for Wednesday against Golden State because of the death of Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojević in Salt Lake City early that morning.
Sexton made three free throws and a dunk to get Utah within 130-126 before Wallace made his season-best fourth 3-pointer for the Thunder.
“He’s not flinching,” Daigneault said about Wallace after the rookie's seventh start. “Just great poise and mental toughness.”
Jordan Clarkson answered with a 3-pointer for Utah, but Chet Holmgren blocked Walker Kessler’s dunk attempt. On the ensuing out of bounds play, the Jazz couldn’t convert on two attempts and Holmgren closed the win with a free throw.
“We battled and gave ourselves a chance to win the game. That’s all you can really ask for after a first half like that,” Markkanen said.
The Thunder made their first seven shots in the fourth quarter, and with Gilgeous-Alexander on the bench, Williams' 3-pointer capped a 6-0 run and Oklahoma City led 113-102 with 8:49 to play.
“We’re starting to figure out how to attack (zone defense) best and I thought it was a good response from the other night against LA, where we settled for a lot of 3s, but tonight I thought we made a heavy emphasis of getting into the paint making zone collapse first,” Giddey said of the Thunder's success against multiple defensive looks.
The Jazz caught the Thunder and tied the game twice in the third quarter, but Utah never took the lead
The Thunder stormed out to a 34-15 lead behind Gilgeous-Alexander’s shots in the lane and trips to the line, mainly off transition.
The Jazz trimmed the lead to 64-61, but Oklahoma City shot 60% in the first half and five starters were in double figures by halftime as the Thunder led 76-67. That tied for their season high in first-half points.
“They were getting into the paint way too easily," said Utah's John Collins , who had 21 points. "Some of that stuff comes back to bite us in the butt at the end of games like this where it’s a game of small margins and we need every point we can get.”
UP NEXT
Thunder: Finish their four-game road trip at Minnesota on Saturday night.
Jazz: Begin a six-game road trip at Houston on Saturday night.