The Utah Jazz are averaging just over 100 points during a near two-week stretch, but may need to do better than that on Friday night as they visit the mighty Oklahoma City Thunder, winners of four straight at home.
The Jazz have won two straight and five of their last six overall, averaging 100.8 points per contest over their last five. They didn't reach that mark last time out, but got enough balanced scoring to handle the New Orleans Hornets 96-84.
Al Jefferson was one of four Utah players to net at least 15 points, pouring in a game-high 19 to go along with seven rebounds. Paul Millsap added 16 points with eight boards and Marvin Williams had 16 before leaving the game with a possible concussion after hitting his head on the floor following a rebound attempt.
Even without Williams, who logged 26 minutes of action, the Jazz improved to 3-7 on the road this season and play the second of three in a row as the guest on Friday.
Getting their road game on track is key for Utah, which is 6-0 at home and trails Oklahoma City by three games for first place in the Northwest Division.
"It's a road win for us. That's what we came out to get," Jazz head coach Tyrone Corbin said. "We toughed it out."
While Williams is doubtful for this game and was still undergoing tests on Thursday, guard Mo Williams is a game-time decision after missing the past three contests with a sprained right foot. He was able to make it through practice on Thursday and leads the Jazz with 6.5 assists per game.
The Jazz will need him to create some scoring chances tonight given that the Thunder lead the NBA with 105.4 points per game and have won the first two contests of a three-game homestand by an average of 33.5 points.
After blowing out the Charlotte Bobcats by 45 points on Monday night, Oklahoma City used a second-quarter run to grab an advantage on the Houston Rockets Wednesday on the way to a 120-98 win.
Kevin Durant matched a season high with 37 points, leading the Thunder to a third straight win and 11th in 13 games on the same night that James Harden made his return to Oklahoma City.
Unable to sign the talented guard to a contract extension, the Thunder dealt Harden, the league's reigning Sixth Man of the Year, to the Rockets right before the start of the season.
"Seeing him before the game and in chapel just in a different uniform is a little different. We've moved on past it, man. We're happy to see him, glad he's doing well out there in Houston but we wanted this win bad," Durant said.
Serge Ibaka added 23 points on 11-for-13 shooting for the Thunder, adding nine rebounds and six blocks. The 23-year-old is tied for the league lead in blocks with 3.1 per game.
The Thunder have won eight of their past 11 versus the Jazz and have taken five of the seven meetings at home since moving to Oklahoma City.
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