Oklahoma City @ Utah preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 11, 2017 ) Utah 104, Oklahoma City 112

Paul George and Carmelo Anthony needed only one regular-season game playing with reigning league MVP Russell Westbrook to understand how special their time could be together. The star-studded trio attempts to power Oklahoma City to its third 2-0 start in as many years when the Thunder visit the Utah Jazz on Saturday.

"I'm used to watching it. I'm used to going up against it. Now, to be on the other side of that on the same team as (Westbrook), and to reap those benefits of what he can bring to the game - I'm excited about what we started out tonight, what we created tonight and where we're headed," Anthony told reporters after scoring 22 points in Thursday's 105-84 rout of the New York Knicks. George tallied 28 points to complement yet another triple-double from Westbrook, who finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 16 assists. “There's nobody that can stay in front of Russ, so he's always going to attract two (defenders). A lot of times I'm going to be catching wide open,” George told The Oklahoman. The Jazz opened their season with a 10-point home win against Denver on Wednesday but were unable to string together consecutive victories as they gave up a go-ahead 3-pointer with less than 30 seconds remaining in a 100-97 loss at Minnesota on Friday.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, FSN Oklahoma (Oklahoma City), AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Utah)

ABOUT THE THUNDER (1-0): Oklahoma City's new fast-paced offense appeared to be in midseason form - the Thunder held a 35-8 advantage in transition points - but Westbrook still committed seven turnovers and the team went 11-for-38 beyond the arc. Patrick Patterson, another one of Oklahoma City's offseason additions, is expected to see more than the seven scoreless minutes he played versus New York as the team tries to ease him back after he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in August. “Hopefully, we can try to find a way to get him some more minutes against Utah. I think it's important that we get him acclimated and get him in there playing.” Thunder coach Billy Donovan told The Oklahoman.

ABOUT THE JAZZ (1-1): Ricky Rubio thrived in his first game back in Minnesota with 19 points, 10 assists and five rebounds, while backcourt mate Rodney Hood rebounded from a quiet opener versus the Nuggets with 20 points on Friday. However, Hood's night ended after only 24 minutes when he was hurt while defending Jamal Crawford midway through the fourth quarter; he was unable to put any weight on his left leg and was carried off by teammates before he was eventually diagnosed with a calf strain. Rudy Gobert finished with 10 points and 13 rebounds versus the Timberwolves to record his second double-double in as many games and the sixth in his last seven regular-season contests.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Westbrook's triple-double against New York was the 80th of his career.

2. Rubio became the first Jazz player to have back-to-back games with at least 10 assists since Shelvin Mack in March of 2016.

3. Oklahoma City's 38 3-point attempts were the franchise's most in a game since the Seattle SuperSonics hoisted up 39 on Nov. 16, 2004.

PREDICTION: Thunder 111, Jazz 98