Thunder Look to Extend Win Streak Against Injury-Hit Jazz
The Oklahoma City Thunder are hitting the road to take on the Utah Jazz this Friday, and it’s shaping up to be an interesting clash. This marks the first meeting of the season between these two teams, and it’s part of the 2025 NBA Cup West Group A group play. The Thunder come into this matchup with a blazing record of 15-1, riding a seven-game winning streak. Their confidence has been high after a solid 113-99 win over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 33 points and eight rebounds, while Chet Holmgren added an efficient 21 points to help seal the victory.
In contrast, the Jazz have struggled to find consistency, falling 140-126 to the Los Angeles Lakers in their last outing. Despite strong performances from Lauri Markkanen, who scored 31 points, and Keyonte George with 34, Utah couldn’t stop the Lakers’ offense. The team is still dealing with injuries to key players, which could make things even tougher for them against the Thunder. Kyle Filipowski remains questionable with a wrist sprain, while Walker Kessler is out with a torn labrum. Georges Niang is sidelined with a foot stress reaction, and both Oscar Tshiebwe and John Tonje, two-way players from the G League, are also unavailable.
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The Thunder, meanwhile, will have to manage without several of their own players. Jalen Williams is out following wrist surgery, Aaron Wiggins is sidelined with an adductor strain, Kenrich Williams is recovering from knee surgery, Nikola Topic is out after testicular surgery, and Thomas Sorber is still on the mend from a torn ACL. Branden Carlson, however, is available and could provide some depth off the bench.
Tipoff from Utah is scheduled for 9 p.m. CT, and the game is expected to showcase the Thunder’s high-powered offense against a Jazz squad that will need to find a way to compensate for their missing stars. With Oklahoma City’s momentum and Utah’s injury woes, the Thunder are favored to continue their dominant start to the season. But in basketball, anything can happen, and the Jazz will be hoping to turn things around on their home court despite the challenges.
This matchup is certainly one to watch for fans of both teams, as it could set the tone for the rest of the NBA Cup West Group A competition. The Thunder aim to keep their perfect record intact, while the Jazz are desperate to get a win and regain some confidence. Friday night promises plenty of action and potentially some surprises.
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