Thunder Surge Past Jazz, 119-107: 3 Key Takeaways
The Oklahoma City Thunder 119-107 defeated the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. The game was competitive, and the score was pretty spot-on based on the performances delivered by the competitors.
The Jazz continues to build for the future by giving valuable minutes to its young players. Collin Sexton led the Jazz in scoring with 25 points while shooting 63% from the field, he also dished seven assists, grabbed five boards and managed two steals.
Let's review several takeaways from the Jazz Thunder ballgame.
CHET HOLGREM'S BUZZ
Holmgren dazzled with 35 points and 14 rebounds on 67% shooting from the field, tallied three blocked shots, had two steals and one assist, and had a staggering +27 game rating. These numbers are terrific, and he has a skill set that is problematic for many centers in the league.
The question on media outlets, NBA TV channels, radios, and chatter amongst his peers is, should he be classified as a rookie? The answer is, for me, a clear-cut no. That said, Holmgren is having an incredible first season in a uniform as a pro, and we'll be among the top players in the league for years to come.
COLLIN SEXTON IS AN ACE
Sexton continues to produce at a high level as a starter and a reserve. Last night, he was thrust into a reserve role and led the team in scoring, as mentioned above.
The mid-season trades that the Jazz facilitated currently have playing time up in the air, but for Sexton, it does not matter what role he inherits. We will have to follow his team's flow to understand better how much value is actually given to Sexton.
Whatever the outcome is, this young man is clearly the MVP of the Jazz this season. I sure hope retaining his services is part of the futuristic plans for the 801.
PRETENDERS OR CONTENDERS
This victory propels the Thunder to the top of the Western Conference with a record of 48-20. The eye test shows that the Jazz can compete with this team, missing several key players.
If the Thunder remain the best team in the West, they will likely face the Suns, Lakers, or Warriors, and I do not believe they would win a series against any of these opponents.
We have a lot of games remaining to decide who will actually face the Thunder, and I may end up eating crow by saying they are not contenders. From this point of view, they do not have a killer instinct or the experience required to make a legitimate run in the NBA playoffs.
The Jazz will remain on the road and get the court tonight for a battle with Luca and the Dallas Mavericks, with the tip-off time at 6:30 pm MST.
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