OKLAHOMA CITY –<\/p>\n
The Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a> return home Wednesday night to face the Utah Jazz as they look to steady their play following a difficult stretch.<\/p>\n Oklahoma City enters the matchup at 30-7 and first in the Western Conference, while Utah sits 13th at 12-23. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Paycom<\/a> Center.<\/p>\n The Thunder have dropped back-to-back games and are 6-6 since Dec. 13 after one of the strongest starts in NBA history.<\/p>\n \n Thunder searching for consistency after recent slide<\/p>\n Oklahoma City is coming off its most lopsided loss of the season, a 124-97 defeat at Charlotte on Monday<\/a>. While the Thunder remain atop the standings, recent results have highlighted areas still in progress.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of games left in the season,\u201d Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said<\/a>. \u201cSome nights are going to be bad, some nights are going to be great, but regardless, you have to try to get better the next day.\u201d<\/p>\n Coach Mark Daigneault has described the challenge of facing opponents\u2019 best efforts as part of the territory for the defending NBA champions.<\/p>\n \u201cIt gives you a unique opportunity to really improve through that,\u201d Daigneault said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to learn the lesson with these ones.\u201d<\/p>\n Offensively, Oklahoma City has posted a 113.7 offensive rating over the last 12 games after averaging 120.5 points per 100 possessions through the first 25. Defensively, the Thunder remain elite but have slipped from a league-best 103.3 rating early in the season to 108.5 over the same span.<\/p>\n \u201cEverything\u2019s a work in progress,\u201d Gilgeous-Alexander said. \u201cWe are far from what we want to be.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n Utah looking to stop skid and rebuild habits<\/p>\n Utah enters Wednesday having lost eight of its last 10 games and four straight overall. The Jazz<\/a> rank last in the NBA in defensive efficiency at 122.0 points allowed per 100 possessions.<\/p>\n Coach Will Hardy said defensive focus remains a priority despite the struggles.<\/p>\n \u201cDefense is tiring. Defense is not fun,\u201d Hardy said. \u201cBut defense is what gives you the opportunity to win.\u201d<\/p>\n The Jazz are led offensively by Keyonte George, who is averaging 24.3 points and 6.8 assists, and Lauri Markkanen<\/a>, who has averaged 3.0 made three-pointers over his last 10 games.<\/p>\n Utah is 7-17 against Western<\/a> Conference opponents and is aiming to snap a three-game road slide.<\/p>\n \n Injuries and what to watch<\/p>\n Oklahoma City continues to deal with multiple absences. Isaiah Hartenstein, Jaylin Williams, Alex Caruso and Ousmane Dieng<\/a> are all out, while Gilgeous-Alexander is listed as day to day with right knee bursitis.<\/p>\n