National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Oklahoma City 101, Utah 98
When: 9:00 PM ET, Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Where: EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah
Officials: # Kevin Scott, #43 Dan Crawford, #42 Eric Lewis
Attendance: 19911

Thunder 101, Jazz 98: Kevin Durant started his season in style with 42 points as visiting Oklahoma City held off pesky Utah in the season opener for both clubs.

Reggie Jackson added 14 points and five steals and Thabo Sefolosha scored 14 points for the Thunder, who racked up 15 steals while forcing 22 Jazz turnovers. Utah had a chance to force overtime but Gordon Hayward’s last-second 3-pointer bounced off the rim.

Alec Burks had 24 points and six assists off the bench to pace Utah. Derrick Favors had 15 points and nine rebounds, Enes Kanter contributed 14 points and 10 rebounds and reserve Mike Harris added 13 points.

The Jazz trailed by 11 early in the fourth quarter before a 16-6 burst moved them within 90-89 on Hayward’s basket with 4:33 remaining. Utah twice moved within one in the final 11.1 seconds and Durant finished a 22-of-24 effort from the line by hitting two free throws with 6.4 seconds left prior to Hayward’s game-ending miss.

Durant had 21 first-half points to help Oklahoma City to a 57-48 lead at the break. The Thunder had a 15-point lead with 3 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter before Burks scored eight points during a 9-2 run that pulled the Jazz within 81-73 entering the final stanza.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Jackson is serving as the starter at the point while All-Star Russell Westbrook recovers from knee surgery. … Utah had a 56-32 edge in points in the paint. … Thunder C Hasheem Thabeet sat out due to a one-game suspension for head-butting New Orleans C Greg Stiemsma in a recent preseason contest.
Top Game Performances
 
Oklahoma City   Utah
Kevin Durant 42 Scoring Alec Burks 24
Reggie Jackson 3 Assists Alec Burks 6
Serge Ibaka 10 Rebounds Enes Kanter 10
Kevin Durant 22 Free Throws Made Alec Burks 8
Reggie Jackson 5 Steals Gordon Hayward 3
Serge Ibaka 2 Blocks Derrick Favors 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Oklahoma City 101 40.7 6-19 29-33 9 45 4 15 14
Utah 98 45.6 6-22 20-30 25 44 5 6 22
Upcoming Games
  • Utah will play their next game on the road against Phoenix. The Jazz have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.
  • Oklahoma City will play their next game on the road against Minnesota. The Thunder have a W/L % of .000 after a win and 1.000 after a loss.