The Utah Jazz beat a struggling Oklahoma City Thunder team 98-81 in front of 17,190 fans at EnergySolutions Arena Tuesday night. Despite having a two day rest, the Jazz came out flat, shooting only 33% and turning the ball over five times in the first quarter as the Thunder took a 23-14 lead at the end of the opening period. WIth 2:35 remaining in the second quarter, and the Jazz down 28-39, Jazz head coach Quin Snyder screamed “WAKE UP, WAKE UP, WAKE UP!!!”, and received his first technical foul of his Utah Jazz coaching career.
After Snyder was T’d up, the Jazz closed out the half on a 12-3 run, cutting the OKC lead to only two at halftime. With 5:57 left in the third quarter, the Jazz took their first lead of the game, With 2:54 left in the third, Rudy Gobert broke open a 57-57 tie and gave the Jazz a two point lead with a slam dunk. The Jazz never looked back, leading all the way to the final buzzer with the help of Dante Exum, who scored six points on two three pointers in the fourth quarter, Trey Burke, who put up 17 points, and Alec Burks, who scored 20 points had had 14 rebounds, his first 20-10 of his career. The Thunder played without stars Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, who were absent due to injury, and fell to 3-9 on the young season. Jeremy Lamb led the Thunder in scoring with 19 points. The Jazz improved to 5-7, currently on pace for 34.16 wins.
-The Jazz held the Thunder to 81 points, the lowest the Jazz have held a team all season
-Utah made 10 three point shots, tied for second most in a game this season
-Utah shot 41.7% from beyond the arch, second best in a game this season
-The Jazz grabbed 55 rebounds, the most in a game this season
-The Jazz held OKC to 30 field goals made, tied for lowest number of field goals made by an opponent this year
-The Thunder shot 35.7% from the floor, the lowest field goal percentage in a game by a Jazz opponent this season
-Enes Kanter earned his second double double of the season with 16 points and 15 rebounds
-All five Jazz starters scored in double figures
Quotes
Jazz head coach Quin Snyder on his technical foul
“I think sometimes when you’re pulling this and pushing that, I was getting on my team. I was getting on my
staff. I was beating myself up for not having us ready. I just felt like there were no answers, and you get
frustrated and sometimes that frustration spills into other parts of the game.”
Snyder on the second half improvements
“I thought we lost our identity. We came out didn’t get stops early. We were just stuck in mud. We showed them
a couple clips and said let’s get back to doing the things we do. We didn’t have any energy, anywhere you can
find it that’s what we told them. Look under a rock, look at each other, anywhere you can find some juice – try to
find it.”
Alec Burks on the second half turnaround
“Just stops. We got stops and we got the chance to run and make easy plays for each other.” (The Jazz held the Thunder to 36.6% shooting in the second half)
Stat Leaders
Points: Utah- Alec Burks, 20 | OKC- Jeremy Lamb, 19
Rebounds: Utah- Enes Kanter, 15 | OKC- Lance Thomas and Steven Adams, 8
Steals: Utah- Joe Ingles, 3 | OKC- Lance Thomas and Ish Smith, 2
Assists: Utah- Trey Burke, 9 | OKC- Reggie Jackson, 7
Blocks: Utah- Alec Burks, 2 | OKC- Steven Adams, 2
OKC Shot Chart
Utah Shot Chart
Final Box Score
Next up for the Jazz: Utah Jazz (5-7) at Golden State Warriors (8-2). Oracle Arena, Oakland California. 8:30 PM. The Warriors are 8-2, and have won three in a row.