OKLAHOMA CITY — In between the lines of the hardwood, there was no love between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder players.
That was quickly apparent from Russell Westbrook’s flagrant foul against Rudy Gobert in the opening quarter to Jae Crowder and Dennis Schroder’s double technical foul calls in the second quarter following their player altercation.
So Friday’s matchup in Chesapeake Energy Arena was certainly a dogfight.
Not even 48 minutes was enough for the Western Conference rivals as Oklahoma City topped Utah in not one, but two overtimes of the first game after the NBA All-Star break, 148-147.