Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Starred within the visiting Oklahoma victory with 22 issues. With the win, OKC (39-42) inched one step nearer to sealing a place within the play-in match whilst the Jazz (36-44) had been eradicated from postseason rivalry.
Josh Giddy contributed 17 issues, 8 rebounds and 8 assists for the Thunder. Eight OKC gamers scored no less than 9 issues within the street win.
The Thunder will clinch a place within the play-ins with a win towards Memphis on Sunday afternoon.
Chris Dunn completed with 22 issues, 8 assists and 7 forums, whilst Kelly Olynyk totaled 16 issues, 14 rebounds and 8 assists to tempo the Jazz.
Utah, enjoying with out 4 starters, just about overcame an early 16-point deficit however may no longer overtake the Thunder within the 3rd quarter after coming inside of one level on 5 other events.
OKC stormed out to its greatest lead of 18 early within the fourth quarter through opening on a 10-0 run, capped through a Dario Saric 3 with 10:31 final. Saric had 14 issues and 10 rebounds with two blocked pictures.
Utah spoke back with seven instantly through Johnny Juzang to make it an 11-point recreation, however that was once the Jazz’s closing push.
Isaiah Joe gave the Thunder a forty five–29 lead through capping a ten–0 run with two unfastened throws and a 3-pointer in the second one quarter.
Utah held OKC to at least one basket within the ultimate 3:58 of the primary part whilst the usage of a 14–2 scoring burst to slender the distance to a few, 55–52, through the damage.
After heading off the Jazz’s comeback makes an attempt, the Thunder stretched their result in 84–76 going into the overall length.
Oklahoma City received in spite of handiest capturing 40.2 p.c from the sphere. The giant distinction got here past the arc, the place the Thunder hit 15 of 45 3s in comparison to a coarse 5-for-31 3-point-shooting evening for Utah.
(With Reuters Inputs)