(My Sportsbook) - A pair of Northwest Division foes square off this evening at the Ford Center where the Oklahoma City Thunder will host the Utah Jazz. The Jazz will kick off a three-game road trip against the Thunder, Grizzlies and Mavericks and are 7-11 away from Salt Lake City this season. They have dropped four in a row as the visitor. Utah just went 4-0 on a four-game homestand and defeated the Indiana Pacers, 120-113, on Monday at EnergySolutions Arena. Mehmet Okur set a career-high with 43 points and went 13-of-19 from the field. Okur also had nine rebounds, while Andrei Kirilenko and Deron Williams scored 23 points apiece. Kirilenko also had 12 rebounds and Williams 11 assists in the win. Double-double machine Paul Millsap was inactive for Utah due to a bruised left knee and is probable for Wednesday. Forward C.J. Miles (ankle) is questionable and guard Deron Williams (foot) is probable for Wednesday. Oklahoma City has lost three of its last four games, including Monday's 103-99 overtime setback at New Jersey. Kevin Durant scored 26 points and grabbed nine boards for Oklahoma City, which will open a three-game homestand Wednesday versus Utah, Detroit and Miami. The Thunder are 4-16 as the host in 2008-09. Jeff Green had 15 points and 10 boards, while Russell Westbrook scored 19 points in defeat. Center Robert Swift is questionable for Wednesday's game because of a stomach virus. The Jazz handed the Thunder a 104-97 loss on November 7 this season in Salt Lake City and have won five straight in the series. Utah is unbeaten in the past two games as the visitor against Seattle/Oklahoma City. |
