Oklahoma City Thunder (44-10, first in the Western Conference) vs. Utah Jazz (13-41, 14th in the Western Conference)
Salt Lake City; Friday, 9:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: The Oklahoma City Thunder visit Walker Kessler and the Utah Jazz in Western Conference play Friday.
The Jazz have gone 1-7 against division opponents. Utah is fifth in the Western Conference in rebounding with 45.5 rebounds. Kessler leads the Jazz with 11.8 boards.
The Thunder are 25-9 in Western Conference play. Oklahoma City ranks seventh in the Western Conference shooting 35.9% from 3-point range.
The Jazz average 13.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.3 more made shots on average than the 12.6 per game the Thunder allow. The Thunder average 13.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.6 fewer makes per game than the Jazz give up.
TOP PERFORMERS: Kessler is averaging 11.3 points, 11.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks for the Jazz. Jordan Clarkson is averaging 2.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is scoring 32.5 points per game with 5.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists for the Thunder. Jalen Williams is averaging 16.9 points and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 48.2% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Jazz: 3-7, averaging 116.8 points, 45.6 rebounds, 27.5 assists, 6.0 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 122.7 points per game.
Thunder: 8-2, averaging 123.5 points, 49.8 rebounds, 26.5 assists, 8.8 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 48.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.8 points.
INJURIES: Jazz: KJ Martin: day to day (trade pending), Taylor Hendricks: out for season (fibula), Jordan Clarkson: day to day (foot), Collin Sexton: out (ankle), Walker Kessler: day to day (thumb).
Thunder: Ousmane Dieng: day to day (calf), Cason Wallace: day to day (shoulder), Nikola Topic: out for season (acl), Ajay Mitchell: out (toe), Alex Caruso: day to day (illness).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
The Associated Press
