Oklahoma City Thunder at Utah Jazz 10/20/21 - NBA Picks & Predictions

Last Updated: 10/19/2021 at 10:06 PM ET

The Oklahoma City Thunder open their NBA regular season on the road Wednesday against the Utah Jazz at the Vivint Smart Home Arena. Oklahoma City was 22-50 and finished 14th in the Western Conference last season. Oklahoma City added Derrick Favors, while drafting Josh Giddey, Tre Mann, Jeremy Robinson-Earl, and Aaron Wiggins. No longer with Oklahoma City are Moses Brown, Al Horford and Tony Bradley.

Oklahoma City will have a starting backcourt of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who led the Thunder in scoring before suffering a season-ending injury, and Luguentz Dort. The two starting forwards are expected to be rookie Josh Giddey and Darius Bazley, while Favors will start at center. Oklahoma City will have a strong backcourt in Gilgeous-Alexander and Dort but little else. Giddy is expected to contribute early for OKC but the Thunder will continue in their rebuilding process.

The Utah Jazz were 52-20 and finished first in the Western Conference last season. Utah acquired Hansen Whiteside, Rudy Gay and Eric Paschall, while drafting Jared Butler. Derrick Favors and Georges Niang are no longer with the Jazz. Utah’s starting backcourt will consist of Mike Conley and Donovan Mitchell while Bojan Bogdanovic and Royce O’Neale will be the starting forwards with Rudy Gobert at center.

Utah has one of the NBA's top scorers in Donovan Mitchell and has the leading rebounder and one of the league’s best defensive players in Rudy Gobert. Utah has added Hassan Whiteside for additional rebounding and defense Mitchell will be helped in scoring by Jordan Clarkson, Rudy Gay and Joe Ingles. Mitchell will be the top player for the Jazz and his scoring on a nightly basis will be a big determining factor to whether Utah wins 50+ games again this season.

Utah has battled a few injuries during the preseason but is expected to have a full lineup except for Rudy Gay. The Jazz have one of the NBA's best scorers in Donovan Mitchell and likely the best overall defensive player and rebounder in Rudy Gobert. Oklahoma City continues to rebuild from the bottom up and has a very young, inexperienced, but talented lineup that will be competitive but win very few games. Final Score Prediction, Utah Jazz win and cover ATS 118-101.

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