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Jazz have lots of respect for Thunder, but are not the same team that lost three of four to them

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz forward Jae Crowder (99) pulls down a rebound as the Utah Jazz host the Phoenix Suns, NBA basketball in Salt Lake City, Wednesday Feb. 14, 2018.

  | April 12, 2018, 10:46 p.m.
| Updated: April 14, 2018, 2:39 a.m.

The Jazz were relieved that there was no longer any guesswork.

In the moments after Utah lost to the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night, the Jazz brushed away the defeat and turned their sights on the task ahead: The Oklahoma City Thunder.

A comprehensive scouting of the Thunder will come in the days ahead. But the players drew upon the memory of playing Oklahoma City four times in November and December.

“We know they have a good team with a lot of offensive firepower,” Jazz forward Jae Crowder said. “They are physical, they can beat you in a lot of ways. We just have to regroup and get ourselves prepared.”

The season series didn’t go well for Utah, as OKC won three of the four meetings. Utah defeated the Thunder in the third game of the season at Vivint Smart Home Arena. After that, Oklahoma City took the final three games, the last in blowout fashion over a Jazz team on the final leg of a six-game road trip.

There are significant differences for Utah. The Jazz essentially had Rudy Gobert for only one game in those four meetings. He played 27 minutes against OKC in a December loss, but he was just coming back from injury and was clearly not himself.

JAZZ VS. THUNDER<br>Game 1 • Jazz at Thunder, 4:30 p.m. Sunday, TNT<br>Game 2 • Jazz at Thunder, 6 p.m. Wednesday, NBA TV<br>Game 3 • Thunder at Jazz, 8 p.m. April 21, ESP<br>Game 4 • Thunder at Jazz, 8:30 p.m. April 23, TNT<br>Game 5 (if necessary) • Jazz at Thunder, TBD April 25<br>Game 6 (if necessary) • Thunder at Jazz, TBD April 27<br>Game 7 (if necessary) • Jazz at Thunder, TBD April 29

Donovan Mitchell missed a game, and the Jazz’ rotation now looks different after Rodney Hood and Joe Johnson were traded.

Of course, that doesn’t ensure anything for the Jazz. But, they are a different team than the one Oklahoma City blew out in the final two games of the season series.

“It’s a team with a lot of ways to win games,” Utah coach Quin Snyder said of the Thunders. “We are going to have to play very well if we want to give ourselves a chance.”

FINAL HONORS

To the teams who play well go the spoils. On Thursday, the NBA named Mitchell the rookie of the month for March/April (the NBA considers that one month because of the muted April schedule). Mitchell’s won the award four consecutive months, and is the first rookie to do so since Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns in 2015-2016.

Snyder was named coach of the month. He led the Jazz to a 17-4 record in March and April, posting separate win streaks of nine games. The Jazz were 8-2 on the road during that span.

INJURY NEWS

Oklahoma City guard Corey Brewer was diagnosed with a sprained knee, after taking a fall on Wednesday night against the Memphis Grizzlies. Brewer is OKC’s starting shooting guard, and is expected to be a primary defender for Mitchell. Brewer is expected to be ready for Sunday’s Game 1.