The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz at Oklahoma City Thunder: Keys to keep the win streak alive

By Jared Woodcox

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 21: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder boxes out against Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz on October 21, 2017 at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 21: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder boxes out against Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz on October 21, 2017 at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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ORLANDO, FL – NOVEMBER 29: Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the game against the Orlando Magic on November 29, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL – NOVEMBER 29: Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the game against the Orlando Magic on November 29, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Key #3 – Win the turnover/steal battle

Interestingly enough, the Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder are atop the league in both steals per game (OKC – 10.5, Utah – 9.6) and points off of turnovers (OKC – 20.2, Utah – 20.0). As you can see from those numbers I just included, OKC has the edge in both categories, but it’s extremely close. Meanwhile, Utah has the edge in turnovers committed per game as they average 14.8 compared to Oklahoma City’s 15.3.

But these numbers clearly tell us that both teams do an exceptional job of forcing turnovers, stealing the ball and turning their opponents’ miscues into easy baskets. The 20 or more points per game that each team is averaging is obviously an enormous part of both of their offenses and if either squad is able to clean that up significantly, it could give them a major advantage in this contest.

The Thunder also happen to have the edge in holding opponents to fewer points off turnovers per game, though, so the Jazz are going to have their work cut out for them if they are to gain an edge in this category. Utah did manage to do just that in their first bout of the season against the Thunder as they put up 24 points off turnovers to OKC’s 16.

If the Jazz are able to continue to move the ball as well as they have without giving the ball away against a team that’s solid at stealing and forcing turnovers, while still imposing their typical will on defense as they have in recent contests, then they’ll have a great chance to overcome a solid OKC team, even on their home court.

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