The Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder are playing on the NBA schedule on ABC on Sunday and the game is on at 1 pm ET on WatchESPN streaming online from Chesapeake Energy Arena in OKC and it has both teams looking to stay in playoff position, with Russell Westbrook leading the Thunder and James Harden coming in while having an MVP season.
Harden is going to get some MVP consideration with how he has played this season and he has helped the Rockets to the number two seed while playing without Dwight Howard for most of the year. Howard has come back and is getting into form and Harden has now established himself as one of the best players in the game. Howard has missed a ton of time and has played in just 36 games, but the team is right there at the top of the west and they are trying to hold off the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Rockets won against Dallas on Thursday and they have now lost just once in the last seven games. The Thunder and Mavericks are the bottom two teams in the west for the playoffs and the only two spots still up for grabs. OKC likely needs some luck to get past the Mavs and right now they are in good position to make the playoffs. The Thunder are set to matchup with the Warriors in the first round, while the Mavericks would play the Rockets if it stood where it is today.
Howard is averaging 15 points per game this season and Harden has pulled the team through while averaging 33 points per contest in the last nine games. Howard was out for 26 games while dealing with a knee issue and he now will try and stay in the lineup for the rest of the season and into the playoffs. Russell Westbrook has been playing at an MVP level this season with Kevin Durant out, but he has also missed time with injuries.
Houston has won the last two matchups in the series and now the two teams will face off again. Harden of course used to play for the Thunder and this is a big game for both teams, as Houston is in second and trying to stay above Memphis in the west, while OKC is trying to make sure they stay in the playoffs.
Check here for the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder live coverage.
