Considering BYU isn't too far off from the Utah Jazz, it shouldn't be a surprise to see him attend the Thunder's absurd 144-112 win over the rebuilding squad. Once trailing by 18 points, OKC led by as many as 36 points in the eye-popping 54-point swing in regulation.

Still, the Thunder's 30-2 run was the quintessential moment that exemplified the defending champion's dominance, extending the NBA's best record to 17 wins in 18 tries, with enough time for Gilgeous-Alexander to sit out the entire fourth quarter. Oklahoma City coerced the Jazz into a whopping 27 turnovers.

There are a lot of similarities between the pre-Kevin Durant Warriors and this Oklahoma City Thunder team, which has all the makings of the NBA's next dynasty. The point guard who won MVP two years removed from his first All-Star selection The dominant defense built on like-sized switchers and the constant pressure they provide The hidden defensive gem in Draymond Green (drafted in second round) and Lu Dort (undrafted) And now,

Gilgeous-Alexander has only played in the fourth quarter in seven of OKC's 16 games. That means for over half of the games this season, the reigning MVP has relaxed on the bench in the final frame while the Thunder ran away on the scoreboard.

Mark Daigneault and the Oklahoma City Thunder erased an 18-point deficit to win by 32 points in a 144-112 blowout against the Utah Jazz. In a game where the Thunder bench produced 71 points, which is the second most in franchise history, Daigneault highlighted four players who led the second unit.

Preview the Oklahoma City Thunder's NBA matchup with Los Angeles, including betting odds, tips, trends, and game information.

Simply having Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the floor alongside a group of any Thunder role players is enough to win 90% of their games. Mark Daigenault is a phenomenal coach who has instilled great defensive principles and a culture of work ethic and energy for all 82 games, which allows OKC to win on the margins even when short-handed.

Blazers rookie Caleb Love, who missed the initial game with the Thunder, scored a career-high 26 points in the win over the Warriors. Love recognizes, though, that his primary contributions must come on the other end of the floor.

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz square off in a Western Conference battle as part of the NBA Cup group play.

Oklahoma City bench erupts for nearly half of team’s 144 Points originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.