SALT LAKE CITY — Oklahoma City center Steven Adams averaged just under 33 minutes per game this year and played nearly 37 minutes in the Thunder’s opening-game win over Utah in the best-of-seven series.
However in the two most recent games, both Jazz victories, Adams’ minutes have been limited because of early foul trouble as he played just 22 minutes in Game 2 and 26 in Game 3. That has affected OKC’s rebounding totals and also given Utah center Rudy Gobert more freedom on both the offensive and defensive ends.
It’s a frustration to both Adams and his coach Billy Donovan, who points out that his center was never in foul trouble in two consecutive games during the regular season.