The Oklahoma City Thunder are on the verge of extinction. Due to the defeat at the Utah Jazz the Thunder are now 1-3 behind in the series. In Utah’s 113:96 success (BOXSCORE) the Jazz, led by Donovan Mitchell, showed a strong team performance and won deservedly.
As to be expected, the start was immediately heated again. Russell Westbrook had a few words for Ricky Rubio, a little later Paul pushed away George Joe Ingles, there was a technical for PG-13, the hall was boiling and it got louder when Rudy Gobert Westbrook cleared the ring. The refs reacted to the hardness and whistled now smallest touch fouls. OKC benefited from this at first, but Rubio then cleverly double-crossed Russ.
However, Westbrook remained on the field and was much more aggressive than in game three. This was obviously good for the offense of the Thunder and some free throws for OKC, because Utah had quickly reached the foul limit. So the Thunder led after a quarter with 30:24.
Despite the intensity of the attack, however, jazz did very little, Quin Snyder’s team could not find a rhythm and had to fight hard for every single point. However, the Thunder did not manage much any more, in this phase both teams remained under 30 percent out of the field. Utah were more present under the boards and got the better throws, but the open threesomes from the corners did not want to fall, after all a dunk from Gobert equalized the game (43:43).
Shortly afterwards, a trio of Ingles took the lead for the Jazz and in the following possession of the ball Rubio again drew an offensive foul against Westbrook, it was already number four for the MVP. Ingles let another successful long-distance throw follow, the Jazz went into the break with a 58:52 lead.
And the momentum remained on the side of the hosts. Utah started with a 9-0 run and continued to play suffocating defense, including forcing George into an airball out of the corner. In addition, there are now absolute circus litters, of course from the equally strong Donovan Mitchell. The lead now levelled off at around 15 points, the Thunder simply could no longer reach. It got even worse: Mitchell stayed hot, Ingles sunk the next three (87:66).
OKC forced some ball losses and slight points with the start of the final section, but Mitchell now had an answer again and again. Frustration spread among the guests, Westbrook got into a few techtelmechtel. Later Jae Crowder hit his elbow in the face of a Brawl Steven Adams and was ejected. A small run by George brought OKC up to 14 points, but it was too late for a comeback. Mitchell finally decided the game two minutes before the end of downtown.
All starters scored double-digit points for Utah, with Mitchell (33, 13/28 FG) collecting the most points again. But Rubio (13, 8 assists), Ingles (20, 5/11 threesomes) and Gobert (16, 10 rebounds) also gave important offensive input, while OKC had no valid options besides Westbrook (23, 14 rebounds, 5 turnovers), George (32, 9/21 FG, 12/12 FT) and Anthony (11, 5/18 FG).
Utah Jazz vs. Oklahoma City Thunder 113:96, series 3:1 (BOXSCORE)
Donovan Mitchell. The first half belonged to Ingles’ outstanding defense, but after the break rookie jazz was the all-important man. Whenever the Thunder did a little run or had a little momentum, the Shooting Guard answered in an impressive way. Whether drive, floater or threesome, Mitchell showed his complete arsenal in the offense.
Carmelo Anthony. The other two members of the Big Three didn’t have an easy evening either, but Melo was hardly playable this time. The Jazz exposed the forward in the defense again and again, be it in pick’n’roll or also in the postup with Derrick Favors. On the other hand he had some open throws, he could only use it occasionally, which hurt OKC damn much. This time Melo was even seen several times under the basket, but in the meantime there is also a lack of jumping power to finish near the basket.
It was only a matter of time. This time the Jazz attacked Carmelo Anthony mercilessly in Pick’n’Roll. Melo’s opponent placed blocks until the Jazz Guard (mostly Mitchell) had OKC’s number seven as opponent. The expected result followed: Anthony was almost always beaten, which caused the Thunder Defense to swim enormously. If the Jazz had hit their free throws better, especially in the first half, this game would have been decided much faster.