Big upset! The Clippers topped the top in the West! The Thunder was reversed by a fish belly, and Alexander scored 28 points
On February 7, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued, and the Thunder challenged the Jazz away. Before this game, the Thunder had a record of 35 wins and 15 losses, and because the Timberwolves and Bulls were in a 29-point reversal in the game, the Thunder only needed to lose and push the Clippers to the first place in the West. The Clippers are behind them (34-15) and the Thunder can't afford to lose. The Thunder's offensive and defensive efficiency this season is among the top five in the league, including the average number of blocks per game + scoring with turnovers + free throw shooting percentage, all of which are the first in the league. And the shooting percentage + average steals per game is second in the league, and there are no obvious shortcomings on the whole. However, the team has two problems that need to be improved, the first is rebounding, which ranks only 25th in the league in rebounds per game, and on the other hand, it has entered the fatigue period in the middle of the season, and the Thunder has significantly increased injuries, including Jayway, Jaylin, Bertans, Wallace and others have injuries of varying degrees.
According to the data modeling calculation of the American media "BR", the Thunder, Clippers, Nuggets, and Timberwolves all have a 100% probability of locking up the playoffs, in addition, the probability of the Thunder Western Conference championship is as high as 38.8%, and the Clippers rank second with 20.2. In the last game against the Raptors, all five members of the Thunder team scored 20 points, and at least one of each hit a three-pointer, setting a new record in NBA history! The Jazz had a previous record of 25 wins and 26 losses, ranking tenth in the West, and the record was relatively average, but the Jazz had a 16-7 home record this season, and the attributes of being strong are very obvious. In the last game against the Bucks, after trailing by 19 points, they completed a 34-point comeback, including the previous big wins over the Pacers and Nuggets, this team is very impactful, and it is difficult for them to hold back after they get up.
Back to this game, the Thunder starts: Alexander + Keady + Dort + Jewe + Holmgren, Jazz starters: Dunn + Sexton + Fontecchio + Makkanen + Collins. Holmgren singled Markkanen in the opening game, and then he hit a three-pointer to chase a three-pointer! Collins bullied Holmgren, Markkanen responded with a three-pointer, and Sexton's three-pointer stopped the Thunder. In the middle of the game, Jay and Alexander scored back-to-back singles, Markkanen and Collins continued to make kills under the basket, and one Holmgren struggled. After Collins hit a three-pointer, the Jazz led by as many as eight points. In the second half, Dort and Jaylin blossomed inside and out, Dieng and George exchanged three points, Alexander blossomed inside and out, Dieng counterattacked and thrown, and the Thunder played a wave of 18-7 climax, and at the end of the first quarter, the Thunder overtook the Jazz 33-28.
Back in the second quarter, Dieng and George continued to exchange three-pointers, and Jayway and Wiggins scored back-to-back jumpers. The Thunder opened a double-digit deficit, Clarkson and Samanich singled, and Clarkson's three-pointer chased all the way to only four points. After that, Olynyko attacked under the basket again, and the Thunder's defense under the basket was indeed average. Keady and Wallace's two three-pointers hit the ground, but Clarkson's dunk stopped the Thunder again. In the second half, Dort continued to score three points, and it was Sexton's turn to attack the basket to make a kill, Holmgren repeatedly shook, but fortunately, Alexander scored four points in a row to stop the bleeding, and at the end of the quarter, Jaewe counterattacked and diveled and dunked! At the end of the half, the Thunder led the Jazz 68-61. Alexander scored 19 points alone, Jerway 13, Jazz, Markkanen 11, Collins 12 and Sexton 10.
At the start of the second half, Makkanen hit a three-pointer, Holmgren stopped the bleeding with a dunk in the air, and Dunn continued to shoot a three-pointer. Holmgren responded with a shot from the outside, Markkanen attacked and killed, and the Jazz chased all the way to only 2 points. In the middle of the game, Keady and Alexander reopened the gap, and Holmgren rained down three-pointers, but Sexton and Markkanen attacked efficiently, and Markkanen also played against Alexander, and the two teams fell into a tug-of-war. In the second half, George scored consecutive counterattack layups, Kessler dunked violently, Markkanen hit a three-pointer, and then Clarkson counterattacked and hit a layup! Jazz played a wave of 11-0 climax overtake, Dunn hit another three-pointer at the end of the quarter, and after the third quarter, the Jazz led the Thunder 96-92, is the Clippers going to be pushed to the first place in the West?
In the fourth quarter, Collins continued to widen the difference, and Wiggins stopped the bleeding with three points! In the middle of the game, Wiggins and Jew rained three-pointers, and Olyniko and Collins took advantage of the height advantage to shoot high, and then Jay led the team to the lead. In the decisive moment, George hit two three-pointers, Kessler dunked violently, and in the last 1 minute, Alexander chased the score with consecutive singles, Markkanen continued to make a three-pointer, and then Sexton made free throws to seal the victory. In the end, the Jazz defeated the Thunder 124-117. Complete the big reversal and send the Clippers to the top of the West!
Thunder statistics, Alexander 28 points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists, Jay 26 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, Holmgren 22 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 4 blocks, Dort 10 points. Jazz stats, Markkanen 33 points and 11 rebounds, Collins 22 points and 9 rebounds, Sexton 14 points and 4 assists, George 16 points and 5 assists, Clarkson 12 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists, Olyniko 10 points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists. Congratulations to the Clippers, all the way to the north, but rose to the first place in the West on the day off, keep up the good work!