Russell Westbrook: Friendship with James Harden on hold during game

“Jimmy is obviously our best defender”, he said. “It’s great for business”. The only player with enough of a chip on his shoulder and enough of a lack of regard for other people’s opinions is Westbrook, and that’s exactly what it takes to average a triple-double for a season while breaking a 50-plus-year-old record.

Both Westbrook and James were supporters of a Kevin Durant’s led OKC in 2012 in which it entered into the National Basketball Association finals, losing to the Miami Heat. In four games, Russell Westbrook averaged 36.3 points with 9.3 assists and 9.0 rebounds per game.

One thing to watch for going forward in the series: Oklahoma City has always been a dominant rebounding team, but in part due to bounces created by three pointers, Houston actually recorded more offensive boards, 14-7, as part of an overall 56-41 advantage.

The Golden State Warriors clamped down in the fourth quarter to pull away to a 121-109 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday in game one of their National Basketball Association playoff series. Westbrook had more triple-doubles than any player in history this season, and he’ll need a few more if Oklahoma City expects to make a deep playoff run.

Harden outclassed fellow MVP candidate Westbrook also delivering nine assists and seven rebounds for the Rockets who take a 1-0 lead into game two on Wednesday. Harden cut off a reporter before he could finish his question about how the focus entering this series is on him and Westbrook. “I’m really excited tonight”, said Tara May, who’s been a fan since the 1980s.

“He’s just Pat”, Harden said.

Afterward, the camera happened to zoom in on Thunder coach Billy Donovan, and just as it did, he appeared to tell assistant coach Mo Cheeks he “can’t play Kanter”.

Russell Westbrook and James Harden are the two favorites for league MVP and will play critical roles in how the Thunder-Rockets first-round series ultimately is decided.

“It’s only one game”, James Harden said. “Something that we can talk about later on down the line”.

The Thunder had hoped contesting Houston’s 3-point shooters would slow down its historically good offense.

The Thunder players just weren’t there on either end of the court, allowing the Rockets to score at will. D’Antoni’s teams were swept in the first round in his last two trips to the playoffs in 2011 with the Knicks and 2013 with the Lakers. “His edginess and what he has to do, he has to guard Westbrook. he is a big, big part of what we do”.

“We’re never going to make excuses, but this is hard”, Horford said. The Rockets point guard has played like a superstar since taking the reins for Houston. Visible were “Chyna”, “RIP Lil Sis” and “I love you”.