SALT LAKE CITY — One small-ball lineup worked until it didn't for the Thunder on Saturday.
Patrick Patterson was the first substitution of the night for coach Billy Donovan with eight minutes left in the first quarter. But it wasn't for Carmelo Anthony, but Steven Adams, with Donovan opting to stagger Adams' minutes so he could get him on the floor with one of the Jazz's big men Rudy Gobert or Derrick Favors.
After a rocky minute-and-a-half, the lineup with Patterson at center and five players on the perimeter on offense tied the game 20-20 on some quality ball movement and a 4-of-4 shooting stretch.