Thunder beat Jazz 114-98, strengthen play-in hopes

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexanderscored 22 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder strengthened theirhopes of reaching the play-in tournament with a 114-98 victory overthe short-handed Utah Jazz on Thursday night.

Josh Giddey had 17 points, eight assists and eight rebounds,while Aaron Wiggins scored 15 for the Thunder, who snapped athree-game losing streak. They are 10th in the Western Conference,a half-game ahead of Dallas with one game remaining.

Kris Dunn had 22 points, eight assists and seven rebounds forthe Jazz, who were eliminated from postseason contention.

The Jazz played a 1-3-1 zone that flustered Oklahoma City in thefirst half, but the Thunder attacked it with patience later on andgot plenty of open looks.

With most of their shooters on the bench with injuries, the Jazzmade a season-low five 3-pointers on 31 attempts.

When the Jazz trimmed the lead to 75-74, Gilgeous-Alexanderscored the first seven of a 19-2 run bridging the third and fourthquarters to take command of the game.

Kelly Olynyk, who had 16 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists,and Dunn were the only Utah players available averaging 10 or morepoints. Jordan Clarkson (finger), Rudy Gay (back), TalenHorton-Tucker (ankle), Walker Kessler (concussion) and LauriMarkkanen (hand) were all injured.

Even Collin Sexton, who returned after missing 18 games with astrained hamstring Tuesday against the Lakers, sat out.

Both teams had modest expectations this season but have chalkedup surprising wins along the way and stayed competitive in mostgames.

The Thunder are still very young but further down the rebuildingroad than the Jazz and have 2022 No. 2 overall pick Chet Holmgrenreturning next season. The Jazz have a bevy of draft picks in thecoming years to similarly build back toward contention.

The Thunder led by as many as 16 in the first half before theJazz closed the second quarter on a 10-0 run to cut the lead to55-52 after the second of Olynyk’s two three-point plays in thesurge.

TIP-INS

Thunder: Despite playing without anyone over 6-foot-8 for muchof the game, the Thunder gathered 17 offensive rebounds. … OKC shot26 free throws to Utah’s 16. … Dario Saric had a season-high twoblocks, his first rejections since coming from Phoenix in a Feb. 9trade.

Jazz: Juan Toscano-Anderson fell hard just before the end of thethird quarter and left the court holding his right elbow, but cameback to play in the fourth. … Utah outscored Oklahoma City 36-16 inthe paint in the first half. … The inexperienced Jazz had 19turnovers.

UP NEXT

Thunder: Finish the regular season at home Sunday againstMemphis.

Jazz: Host Denver on Saturday.