OKC Thunder will miss defensive ace against Utah Jazz

The Oklahoma City Thunder will take on the Utah Jazz on Monday, December 11th, 2023. In this contest, the Thunder will be without their defensive ace and their developmental draft pick. While the Utah Jazz will miss two key pieces to Will Hardy's rotation.

Oklahoma City comes into this game with a 14-7 record, 7-3 in their last ten games, and protecting a 7-4 record inside the Paycom Center. The Utah Jazz enter with a 7-15 record, just 3-7 in their last ten games, including a two-game losing streak, and a lowly 1-10 record on the road.

The OKC Thunder will be without their defensive ace, while the Jazz miss their All-Star in a must-win showdown.

In this contest, The Oklahoma City Thunder will be without defensive ace Lu Dort (ankle) and Keyontae Johnson (G League Assignment).

Lu Dort left Friday's overtime win against the Golden State Warriors with this ankle injury. After sitting on the floor twice in pain, Dort immediately went into the Locker room for just a moment before returning to action to finish out the game.

Now, Dort is tabbed as out, and the severity of the injury will be made clearer just before tip-off when Mark Daigneault addresses the media.

For the Utah Jazz, they will miss their All-Star Lauri Markkanen (Hamstring), Walker Kessler (foot), Brice Sensabaugh (G League), Micah Potter (G League), Johnny Juzang (G League), and Josh Christopher (G League).

The Jazz also tab John Collins as questionable with an illness. His status will be decided closer to game time.

With the OKC Thunder able to slot Cason Wallace into the starting lineup in place of Lu Dort and otherwise being healthy, this game should be considered a must-win at home.

Good teams take care of business against losing teams, and the Thunder are staring down the barrel of a tough five-game stretch that features two straight road games against the Kings and Nuggets.