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The Utah Jazz (4-16) head to Oklahoma City to take on the red-hot Thunder (15-5) on Tuesday night. The Thunder have been one of the best teams in the league this season, boasting a stellar 75% win rate and a 10-game advantage over the struggling Jazz. Let's dive into the numbers behind this intriguing Western Conference matchup.
The Thunder have been absolutely rolling offensively, averaging a blistering 114 points per game while shooting a shade above 46% from the field. Their balanced attack is anchored by a 43.2 rebounds and 25.4 assists per contest, fueling their high-octane offense. Defensively, they've been just as impressive, holding opponents to 104 points while swiping 11.6 steals and swatting 6.5 blocks per game.
Their recent form has been even more dominant, with OKC winning 4 of their last 5 while averaging 112.2 points and grabbing 46.2 boards. Their defense has been stifling as well, limiting opponents to just 104.2 points over that stretch. The Thunder are firing on all cylinders and will be extremely tough to beat at home.
On the other side, the Jazz have endured a nightmarish start, winning just 4 of 20 games and currently mired in a 4-game skid. Their offensive numbers have been mediocre at best, averaging 108.4 points on 45% shooting. Utah's biggest struggles have come on the defensive end, where they've been torched for 117.9 points per game.
The Jazz's recent form has been even more dismal, with just 1 win in their last 5 games. They've been outscored by 6 points per game during this stretch, while turning the ball over a whopping 17.4 times. Utah's lone bright spot has been their improved 3-point shooting, hovering around 38% over their last 10 games.
All signs point to a lopsided affair in OKC, with the surging Thunder heavily favored over the reeling Jazz. Utah will need to shore up their porous defense and take immaculate care of the basketball to have any chance of pulling off the upset on the road. Otherwise, the Thunder's relentless offensive assault and lockdown defense could make for a long night for the struggling Jazz.