Two MVP candidates, two teams looking to either make the playoffs or hold on to their lead for the No. 2 seed in the West. Russell Westbrook and James Harden didn’t disappoint on Sunday afternoon.
Both hit for 40 points, and Russ continued to dazzle with his eleventh triple-double this season. Westbrook had 40 points, but was only 12-of-29 from the field (41.4 percent). Then again, he also served up 13 assists and corralled 13 rebounds — continuing to make older fans found in Cincinnati and Indianapolis daydream about the Big O.
Beard was right there with him and had 41 points on 12-for-22 from the field (6-of-9 from deep). He added six rebounds and six dimes, but his big night was propped up by Dwight Howard’s 22 points in 22 minutes of action. Howard continues to work his way back from his in-season injury breaks (he’s only appeared in 37 of Houston’s 77 games this season).
The efforts of their MVPs positioned the Rockets and Thunder at 100-apiece with 2:44 left in the game. But Harden then scored eight points over the next 70 seconds with his final two coming off a fadeaway in Westbrook’s face as the shot clock was about to expire:
The scoring spree ended with the Rockets up 108-101 with 1:25 remaining.
Russ, of course, drained two pull-up three-pointers over the ensuing 40 seconds, making a game of it before Trevor Ariza and Corey Brewer hit some free throws to wrap up a 115-112 Houston win:
Russ is a force of nature.
Harden is an artist.
They both could have still been on the same team, but it’s almost more fun watching the two stars push one another in different uniforms.
(H/T r/NBA; video via clutchfansDOTnet)
