Russell Westbrook triple-doubles but Thunder loses to James Harden's Rockets
- by Grant Boone
- in Sports
- — Mar 28, 2017
Now is Westbrook the NBA's MVP? Russell Westbrook finished the game with a 39 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists triple-double whilst Harden lead the Rockets to a 25-point lead at the end of the third quarter on his way to 22 points, five rebounds and 12 assists. Dennis Schroder had a game-high 24 points for the Hawks, who remain tied with Milwaukee for fifth in the East.
Kemba Walker had 31 points and nine assists as Charlotte dealt Phoenix its eighth consecutive loss, 120-106. Williams shot 7-of-8 from the three. Stephen Curry added 21 points and 11 assists as the Warriors moved 2 1/2 games ahead of San Antonio in the race for the top spot in the West.
That goal took a blow with the announcement that forward Ryan Anderson will miss at least the game against the Thunder at Toyota Center due to a sprained right ankle suffered in the final minutes of Friday's win over the Pelicans.
Oklahoma City's rotation lacks the element which drives the elite teams of the modern National Basketball Association, perimeter shooting.
The matchup was notable on a couple of fronts: Harden and Thunder star Russell Westbrook appear to be duelling for the MVP award, and there is every likelihood these two teams could meet in the first round of the upcoming playoffs.
Klay Thompson scored 21 of his 31 points in the second half of Golden State's seventh consecutive victory, 106-94 against Memphis.
Meanwhile, James Harden is slicing through defences and finding the likes of a rejuvenated Eric Gordon, the ever-reliable Trevor Ariza, and Ryan Anderson. Teams like OKC are forced to try and play catch up and hope that the Rockets have an off night, if they match up in the playoffs - which if the season ended Monday they would. They have better shooters, which means better floor spacing, which means easier offense all around.
The Thunder, driven on and off the court by a superstar scorned by the sudden departure of his former partner in crime and even by the all-star voting process, are a rough around the edges, inside-out team. Below it, there's a thinly veiled shot at Westbrook, Harden's biggest competition for the MVP trophy - "Triple doubles are just a number".
