Thanks to Derrick Favors’ performance, Wednesday’s Game 2 of the Jazz’s series with Oklahoma City will evoke comparisons to their Game 7 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers last April.
In Los Angeles last April, the Jazz surged ahead in the third quarter and withstood the Clippers’ mild rally. The latest win required more toughness and determination, after everything fell apart for them during OKC’s 19-0 run in the third period.
And the Thunder crumbled. The Jazz’s defense had a lot to do with an OKC collapse that will be remembered for the way Russell Westbrook, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony went a combined 0 for 14 from the field in the fourth quarter.