Vitals: Jazz at Thunder

The Thunder looks for its fifth straight win against the Utah Jazz.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 11:24 am

By: News On 6

Originally Published: Dec 31, 2009 12:27 PM CDT

Stephany Speck
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

Utah Jazz (18-13) at Oklahoma City Thunder (17-14)
Thursday, December 31, 2009, 7:00 p.m. CST
Ford Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Game 31 of 82

Anticipated Starting Lineups

	Utah (Away)	Oklahoma City (Home)
PG	Deron Williams 19.9 PPG, 10.1 APG	Russell Westbrook 16.2 PPG, 7.0 APG
SG	Ronnie Brewer 11.0 PPG, 3.7 RPG	Thabo Sefolosha 6.3 PPG, 2.0 APG
SF	C.J. Miles 8.8 PPG, 2.6 RPG	Kevin Durant 28.4 PPG, 6.9 RPG
PF	Carlos Boozer 19.4 PPG, 10.7 RPG	Jeff Green 14.6 PPG, 6.0 RPG
C	Mehmet Okur 12.7 PPG, 6.6 RPG	Nenad Krstic 8.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG

Injuries
Oklahoma City: G/F, Kyle Weaver (shoulder, out); G, Kevin Ollie (knee, out); G/F, Matt Harpring (knee, out).
Utah: SG, Kyle Korver (knee, out).

Where to find it...
On TV: Fox Sports Oklahoma
On Radio: Thunder Radio Network

What you need to know...
The Thunder is playing for its fifth-straight win when they host the Jazz. It’s the second time the two teams have faced each other, following Oklahoma City’s 104-94 win over Utah on Nov. 24.

In its previous match up, Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant scored 28 points with eight assists, while Jeff Green recorded 19 points. The Thunder’s most recent addition, reserve guard Eric Maynor, will face his old teammates for the first time since the Jazz traded him on Dec. 22.

The Jazz will being playing for its third-straight win on New Year’s Eve, but has struggled on the road this season, winning only six of its nine away games. The team averages only 94.6 points per game.

Who to Watch...
Last time out, Thabo Sefolosha kept Utah’s star point guard Deron Williams in check, but Carlos Boozer notched 26 points. Both players are equally dangerous, which will make containment the name of the game for the Thunder.

Durant is playing like one of the league’s elite. In his last five games, Durant has scored 30-plus points, shooting 58.8 percent from the field. Last time out against the Washington Wizards, Durant recorded his seventh double-double of the season. With the way he’s played in December, he may be sad to see 2009 come to an end.