Basketball: Oklahoma City Thunder erase 25-point deficit to force game six against Utah Jazz

Steven Adams defends Rudy Gobert. Photo / Getty

The Oklahoma City Thunder had no right to force a game six in their first round NBA playoff series against the Utah Jazz.

Down 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, and trailing by as many as 25 points in Thursday's game five – their season looked as good as over.

But what a difference foul trouble can make.

The Jazz were forced to bench defensive powerhouse Rudy Gobert due to foul trouble in the third quarter, and an Oklahoma team who hadn't been able to score all series finally came to life.

With just over nine and a half minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Thunder trailed by 20 points. From there, they outscored the Jazz 62-34 to take the win 107-99.

Win! The playoffs are still on! We’ll keep fighting! 💪🏀🔥⚡ pic.twitter.com/FA5spk6mD4

— Alex Abrines (@alexabrines) April 26, 2018

In the third quarter, Westbrook and Thunder forward Paul George outscored the Jazz 32-7. Westbrook finished the game with 45 points, while George added 34.

Gobert, who returned late in the third quarter after the damage had been done, finished the game plus-seven in the plus/minus column - the only Jazz player with a positve number.

His opposite, Steven Adams, didn't have the foul trouble he'd found in the past three games, and managed to stay on the floor for 41 minutes, hitting just two of his six shot attempts.

The sides will now head to Utah for Saturday's game six.