The MVP race is too close to call coming down to the wire. Perhaps one candidate can grab the definitive lead in a head-to-head matchup with the other. Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder will travel to face James Harden and the Houston Rockets in a game that highlights two of the NBA’s superstars.
While that matchup is the game within the game, it’s also important for both teams. The Rockets have the better record and are playing at home, so they will be favored to win and get a step closer to locking up the No. 3 seed in the West.
The Thunder is in the midst of a battle for playoff positioning, with home court advantage in the first round still attainable. This is an important game for both sides but Oklahoma City will need to play well to have a shot at the upset.
This war on the floor will go down Sunday, March 26, 2017, at 3:30 p.m. ET at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. The game will be televised live on ABC.
We'll have NBA odds available for this and every game on the NBA Sunday schedule.
Odds Analysis
The Rockets are 49-22 straight up and 40-31 against the spread. Houston has played in 35 home games this season and has covered in 16 of them. The Rockets are 30-28 against the spread as the favorite this year.
The Thunder is 41-30 straight up and 40-31 against the spread as well. Oklahoma City has played 34 road games this season and has covered in 15 of them. The Thunder has done really well as the favorite this season but has only covered 11 times out of 28 attempts as the underdog.
Last Meeting
During the third and most recent meeting between these two teams on January 5th, Houston led by 14 points at the start of the fourth quarter before a late run by Oklahoma City tied it up with less than two minutes to play. Two critical free throws by Nene Hilario sealed the deal for the Rockets, who escaped with a 118-116 win to improve to 2-1 over the Thunder this year.
The Rockets and the Thunder split the first two matchups of the season, with Oklahoma City taking the first matchup in November and Houston winning on the road in December. All three previous matchups between these two Western Conference foes have been decided by three points or less this year so fans can expect another competitive game on Sunday.
This weekend’s matchup should also be another high-scoring affair with these two offenses on the floor. Houston ranks No. 2, averaging 115.5 points per game while Oklahoma City is putting up 106.7 points per game this year.
Matchup to Watch
Harden vs. Westbrook. Two of the best players in the league go head-to-head this weekend in the fourth meeting between the teams this season.
Westbrook scored 49 points against the Thunder on January 5th and is averaging a double on the season. He combined for another 57 points in the his team’s first two matchups against the Rockets this season.
Harden finished with 26 points, eight rebounds and 12 assists in that January showdown. He his averaging 29.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 11.2 assists on the year.
These are the top two candidates for the MVP. While Westbrook has had a finer individual season, Harden has the better record, so it will be interesting voting. This game could impact the decision since it will be one of the last looks at the players.
Free NBA ATS Pick
While Westbrook is incredible, the Rockets have too much balance. Harden is great because he can score at will but is also a great distributor.
Houston is the better team and playing at home. This one could also be competitive, but it likely won’t be as close as some of the other recent games between these teams. Harden should have another big game to lead his team to the win. If the spread isn’t too high, take the Rockets to cover.
NBA Odds: Rockets 118, Thunder 110
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