Vitals: Thunder vs. Jazz

Originally Published: Oct 30, 2010 6:9 PM CDT

Grant Belcher
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

Oklahoma City Thunder (2-0) vs. Utah Jazz (0-2)
Sunday, Oct. 31, 6 p.m. CST
The Oklahoma City Arena
Game 3 of 82

Anticipated Starting Lineups

Injuries
Oklahoma City: PF Nick Collison (knee, OUT), F/C Cole Aldrich (shoulder, PROBABLE)
Utah: C Mehmet Okur (Achilles' tendon, DOUBTFUL)

Where to find it:
On TV: Fox Sports Oklahoma
Radio: Thunder Radio Network (Matt Pinto)

What you need to know...

Though the season is young, the Thunder and the Jazz have been polar opposites as far as results go. Oklahoma City started with an impressive win against Chicago on opening night and then took care of business against Detroit the following game. Meanwhile, Utah, typically a power in the Western Conference, was blown out in games against Denver and Phoenix, two teams whose rosters were shaken up over the offseason.

Utah sports a new look with Al Jefferson taking over for Carlos Boozer in the post after Boozer bolted for Chicago during the free agency period. The Jazz also added guard Raja Bell over the offseason while maintaining point guard Deron Williams, who many claim is the best point guard in the league. The Jazz's talent, however, has not matched its play so far this season.

Matchups between the Thunder and Jazz have typically been thrilling and have favored OKC. The lone exception to the trend was last year's 140-139 overtime loss at Utah, where the league admitted the referees missed a foul call as Kevin Durant attempted a 3-pointer at the buzzer. The loss prevented a four-game sweep of the Jazz that season for the Thunder, but OKC looked impressive in its other three contests against Utah. Kevin Durant has posted big games in his recent contests against Utah, averaging 35 points per game in the four contests last season. In turn, Deron Williams also tends to have big games against the Thunder. He posted 42 points against Oklahoma City in the 140-139 overtime game last year.

Who to watch...

The Jazz are without Boozer, but Al Jefferson is a serviceable replacement in the post. Jefferson has only averaged 13 points through his first two games, but Oklahoma City could provide a favorable matchup for the big man. At 6-10, 280 pounds, Jefferson is a load down low and Oklahoma City starting center Nenad Krstic is not known for his defensive prowess. Backup big man Serge Ibaka is more defensive-minded, but is way too short and skinny to be considered a real center. The Thunder will likely have to provide help in the post, which could leave them vulnerable to kick outs and perimeter scoring if they want to keep Jefferson contained. Nick Collison would be the ideal scrappy, defensive Thunder center to guard Jefferson, but Collison is still sidelined with injury.

Another key matchup in the game will be who OKC places defensively on Deron Williams. Russell Westbrook, at 6-3, has good size and speed for a point guard, but Williams provides a unique matchup that most point guards have trouble handling. Oklahoma City's defensive specialist, Thabo Sefolosha, will likely spend most of the game chasing Williams around and trying to prevent him from getting a clean look at the basket. In the same mold as John Stockton and Karl Malone, Williams has kept the pick-and-roll offense a huge part of Utah's strategy, first with Carlos Boozer and now with Jefferson and others, though Jefferson isn't quite as mobile. Sefolosha, Westbrook and the Thunder big men will be spending plenty of time in practice discussing pick-and-roll defense.

Kevin Durant, last year's leading scorer has had success against the Jazz despite a couple of solid defensive options the Jazz can throw at him. Recently acquired guard Raja Bell is known for his defense, but at 6-5 would likely not be able to get a hand up high enough to prevent Durant's jumpers from the perimeter. Small forward Andrei Kirilenko will likely start on Durant. Kirilenko also has a reputation as a defensive player but has lost a step or two over the years.