Overview
- Oklahoma City still holds the NBA’s best record and the West’s No. 1 seed despite a 6-6 stretch that includes a 124-90 loss to Charlotte and multiple defeats to San Antonio.
- The Thunder opened the season 24-1, a start that heightened scrutiny as their recent results cooled.
- Utah arrives at 12-23 on a four-game losing streak with organizational focus on retaining a top-eight–protected first-round pick.
- The Jazz defense has struggled without injured center Walker Kessler, even as Keyonte George and Lauri Markkanen average 24.3 and 27.7 points per game.
- The game is Wednesday, Jan. 7 at 6 p.m. MT at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, airing on Jazz+ and KJZZ.