At least one family is hoping the third time will be the charm when the Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder play Friday night in Salt Lake City.
While the extended Jazz family would certainly like to notch a win against the Thunder after two losses earlier this season, the Williams family might even be rooting harder for the game to go their way.
Their wish is simply that brothers Jalen Williams (OKC) and Cody Williams (Utah) get to play against each other for the first time in the NBA. Cody, a rookie, was on a G-League assignment with the Salt Lake City Stars when the two NBA teams met the first time in December and then was injured for the Jan. 22 matchup.
In a sense, the brothers’ impact on their respective teams reflects their teams’ positioning in the standings.
Jalen Williams, playing in his third NBA season, averages 21.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists for the Western Conference-leading Thunder.
Similar to its surging No. 2 scorer, Oklahoma City has elevated its play this season while compiling a 44-10 record before the All-Star break. Jalen and Co. came out of the break with a commanding eight-game lead over second-place Memphis for conference superiority.
The Jazz, meanwhile, limped into All-Star weekend with a 13-41 mark and have the third-worst record in the league. Utah lost four of five games before the break, which included a 120-116 overtime defeat to the Los Angeles Clippers in which they led by 20 points.
“The truth is that the math was way against us in that game,” Jazz coach Will Hardy said after the Jazz had 16 fewer shots, 10 fewer free-throw attempts and a whopping 26 turnovers.
After being picked 10th overall out of Colorado last summer, Cody hasn’t put his stamp on the Jazz quite yet. He only has played in 29 games, having been limited by G-League assignments, injuries and a lack of playing time. Overall, he’s averaging 3.9 points on 30.2 percent shooting with 2.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.
The Williams brothers were born 31 months apart, which helps to explain why Jalen said they haven’t had many opportunities to play with and/or against each other. They have worked out together and played on a competitive men’s league together for a bit one summer, but that’s about it.
The elder brother might do something unusual if and when their sibling showdown happens. He just might talk some smack.
“I don’t know, actually. Probably not,” Jalen said at practice Thursday before slightly changing his tune. “I don’t really trash-talk anybody in general. I might for him. I might make an exception for him.”
Cody missed nine consecutive games in January and February with an ankle injury, but he returned to play in Utah’s final three games before the All-Star break.
Combined, he scored 11 points on 2-of-6 shooting (1-for-4 from 3-point range) to go with two rebounds and two assists. He also committed four turnovers in 48 minutes.
The Jazz come out of the midseason intermission with a new player, having signed guard Jaden Springer to a 10-day contract this week. The Tennessee product has played for the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics over the past four seasons.
–Field Level Media
