We’re only 11 games into the NBA season but people are already claiming James Harden and Russell Westbrook are MVP candidates. Yes, what they’ve been doing to start the year has been monster, but there’s a lot of games left. We have plenty of months left to see how the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets end up in the Western Conference standings.
Either way, tonight put Russ and the Beard against each other and both showed out.
Harden didn’t have a high scoring game like Westbrook did, but still managed a double-double, scoring a season-low 13 points and solid 13 assists. Russ on the other hand, had a game-high 30 points, 9 assists and 7 rebounds. He won the matchup and the Thunder won the game.
Things went down to the wire too. Unfortunately, missed shots and a turnover down the stretch by Harden cost them the chance to tie. Westbrook sealed the victory with a left-handed dunk off an in-bounds play, where he beat the defender and flushed it.
Oklahoma City now improves to 7-5 on the season, while the Rockets fall to 6-5.
FINAL: OKC 105 | HOU 103
OS REWIND: Russell Westbrook Destroyed the Rim Against the Pistons