SALT LAKE CITY —
First, the Thunder lost its composure. Next, Russell Westbrook lost his concentration. Then the Thunder lost its defensive intensity.
You know what all that means. The Thunder lost the game. Nothing left to lose except the series.
The Utah Jazz put the Thunder on the brink of elimination with a 113-96 decision Monday night that started well for OKC but disintegrated quickly.
The Jazz — a defense-dominant squad — scored on 12 straight possessions going into and coming out of halftime. Utah, a really good team but not exactly the Mountain State Warriors, scored 29 points in seven minutes.