Thunder look to lock up league’s finest report towards Jazz

Numerous the speak surrounding the Utah Jazz this season has been about their rebuilding course of, tanking and buying one of many prime picks of the 2025 NBA Draft.

By the way, the rookie on their workforce who’s excelling essentially the most proper now’s the one who did not get chosen within the first spherical. In Wednesday’s 133-126 time beyond regulation win over Portland, first-year Duke product Kyle Filipowski amassed career-highs in factors (30) and rebounds (18) to go along with 5 assists and three steals.

Filipowski can have two extra outings to realize extra expertise as a rookie, together with Friday’s house finale for the Jazz (17-63) towards the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (66-14) in Salt Lake Metropolis.

“From a stat standpoint, it is his finest recreation as a professional,” Jazz coach Will Hardy stated after Wednesday’s massive efficiency. “I believe Flip did a extremely good job tonight of utilizing the specter of the three ball to do plenty of the opposite issues he is actually good at.”

Filipowski, who slipped to Utah early within the second spherical of final 12 months’s draft, hit a pair of 3-pointers and shot 13-for-17 from the sector en path to his profession night time towards the Path Blazers. He had the game-tying dunk with 2.8 seconds left in regulation after which performed a key position in time beyond regulation to assist the Jazz snap a nine-game skid.

“That is the Flip that I grew up with,” Utah guard Keyonte George stated. “Being on (Workforce) USA to seeing him on the (AAU) circuit, I do not even know the best way to clarify it, that is his recreation. That is who he’s. He could possibly be that kind of man each single night time.”

Although they pulled off a uncommon win Wednesday, the Jazz have nonetheless misplaced 19 of their final 21 video games. They’re at present tied with the Washington Wizards for the worst report within the NBA.

The Thunder, in the meantime, even have two video games remaining on their schedule. They want one win or a Cleveland loss to safe one of the best report within the league. OKC already has wrapped up the No. 1 seed all through the Western Convention playoffs.

Oklahoma Metropolis is coming off a 125-112 highway victory over Phoenix on Wednesday, a outcome that eradicated the Suns from postseason rivalry.

With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (shin) sidelined, Jalen Williams led the best way for the Thunder with 33 factors, seven rebounds, 5 assists and three steals. Chet Holmgren added 22 factors and 10 boards, whereas Alex Caruso had 19 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 steals.

Williams joked that Caruso’s steals line on the stat sheet will need to have been a typo however then complimented his teammate for setting the defensive tempo.

“I assumed AC was actually good for us,” Williams stated. “I believe AC began us off taking part in protection, getting again to our identification. We began the third quarter with 13 of 15 stops. Having the ability to do this and hone into what makes us good, I believe we did a extremely good job of that and we had been particular one by 5.”

Although there’s nothing on the road with Friday’s recreation other than a possible season-series sweep for OKC, which gained the primary three contests, Williams stated these video games can nonetheless be necessary because the Thunder strategy the postseason.

“I am making an attempt to make use of plenty of these video games as reps,” he stated, “and deal with them as near the playoffs as I can no matter who we’re taking part in.”

–Discipline Stage Media