OKLAHOMA CITY — If the New Orleans Pelicans can travel to favored Portland and get a Game 1 victory, and if the Indiana Pacers can win by 18 points in the home gym of LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, then it certainly was within the realm of possibility that a surging Utah Jazz team would be a threat on Sunday at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Oklahoma City has a history of clashing with streaking opponents in the playoffs. In advance of the 2012 Western Conference finals, San Antonio had an 18-game win streak. In advance of the 2016 Western finals, Golden State had the momentum of a 73-win regular season.
With 29 victories in its last 35 games since January, the Jazz arrived in Oklahoma at a 2012 Spurs-2016 Warriors level of hotness.
In a Game 1 that began only minutes after the conclusion of Indiana’s blowout conquest of the Cavs, could Utah score a knockdown in this first round of its first-ever postseason meeting with the Thunder?
The Jazz rocked to a 16-4 lead, but the Thunder recovered to get 36 points from Paul George, 29 points and 13 rebounds from Russell Westbrook, and timely fourth-quarter 3-point baskets from Alex Abrines.
