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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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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – OCTOBER 21: Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz and Alex Abrines #8 of the Oklahoma City Thunder talk after the game 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: Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz and Alex Abrines #8 of the Oklahoma City Thunder talk after the game 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) /

Prediction – Thunder 107, Jazz 99

I’ll be honest, I’m a lot less comfortable with this prediction than I was on Sunday when I first made it in my preview and outlook piece for the week ahead. The Utah Jazz just put up yet another blowout win over the Washington Wizards, they have Rudy Gobert back and the team simply seems to be firing on all cylinders.

Still, this six-game win streak that has been so impressive simply has to come to an end at some point and given the fact that Utah has struggled mightily on the road while OKC has been so good at home and that the Thunder’s last two wins seem to signify that they’re starting to turn things around, I think that this will finally be the contest that brings the Jazz back to earth.

With that being said, I absolutely believe that the Jazz can win this game and, after seeing what they’ve done the past two weeks, will not even be surprised if they once again prove me wrong and come out on top. The keys I’ve mentioned here are absolutely doable (they accomplished much of what I brought up in their first win against the Thunder) and if they repeat them, then Utah could very well beat the Thunder and earn a seventh straight win.

However, until Utah earns some more convincing wins away from home and proves to me that they truly can bring it regardless of where the game is being played, I’m just not quite confident in pinning them as winners against a star-studded and rapidly improving OKC team. Therefore, I’m picking the Thunder to come out on top in a hard-fought, closely contested battle.

Next: Three-Point Threat Episode 23: Donovan Mitchell, 3 Impressions, Utah Jazz Week 8

For a look at the keys to this game from a Thunder writer’s point of view, be sure to check out this great piece from our friends over at Thunderous Intentions.

After facing the Thunder on Tuesday, the Jazz will return home for a nationally televised bout against the Houston Rockets on Thursday before setting out on a six-game road trip that will begin in Milwaukee on Saturday. That road trip could very well be far from kind to the Jazz, so getting a win in Oklahoma City on Tuesday to raise their record to three games above .500 would go a long way in helping them stay afloat by month’s end.

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