KISSIMMEE, Fla. — On Oct. 23, 2019, the Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder opened the 2019-20 season against one another in Salt Lake City. On March 11 in OKC, the NBA was brought to a screeching halt moments before the two teams tipped off. On Saturday, the Thunder will restart their season against the Jazz in a bubble rematch of the game that never happened.
“It’s a hell of a coincidence that’s who our first game is against,” Thunder guard Chris Paul said.
A coincidence that Thunder coach Billy Donovan always thought was a possibility. In fact, Donovan still has his scouting notes from preparing for that March 11 game and plans on comparing those the film from the Jazz’s first game in the bubble against the New Orleans Pelicans.