Utah @ Oklahoma City preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 22, 2018 ) Oklahoma City 107, Utah 106

Oklahoma City star point guard Russell Westbrook seeks to extend his record streak of consecutive triple-doubles to 12 when the Thunder host the Utah Jazz on Friday. Westbrook is averaging 21.9 points, 13.5 assists and 13.3 rebounds during the stretch and has 24 triple-doubles on the season.

The Thunder have won 15 straight regular-season home games against Jazz with Utah's last win in Oklahoma City being a 120-99 rout on Oct. 31, 2010. The Thunder lost in the first round of the playoffs to Utah last season but won this season's first two meetings. "We know this team," star forward Paul George said of the Jazz. "This is probably the best team we could have played coming out of the (All-Star) break just because of our series last year, and this is going to be a tough one. It's hard to beat a team three times in a row, but we're up for the challenge." Utah headed into the break on a 14-5 run and stands in sixth place in the Western Conference while the Thunder are in third.

TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Utah), FS Oklahoma

ABOUT THE JAZZ (32-25): Star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell overcame a slow start with a vengeance and he has scored 20 or more points in 18 of the past 19 games. Mitchell has tallied at least 25 points on 12 occasions during the stretch, including four outings of 33 or more points. Utah came up empty in its bid to land Memphis point guard Mike Conley at the trading deadline and will play the season out with Ricky Rubio, who has scored in double digits in eight of the past 10 games.

ABOUT THE THUNDER (37-20): Recently signed forward Markieff Morris is expected to make his team debut after missing the last eight weeks due to a neck injury. Morris averaged 11.5 points and 5.1 rebounds in 34 games for the Washington Wizards before the injury and said he is ready to play a role in helping Oklahoma City make a deep playoff run. "I just came to be a vet, man," Morris told reporters. "I came to try to help the team keep pushing toward the ultimate goal and that's to win a championship. I'm just ready to play. I'm excited to be here. I know a bunch of guys on the team already and I'm ready to go."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Thunder are 2-0 against the Jazz this season and have won the past five regular-season matchups.

2. George is averaging 37.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.5 steals against the Jazz this season.

3. Utah backup PG Dante Exum (ankle) resumed practicing but will miss his 18th straight game.

PREDICTION: Thunder 119, Jazz 111