10 Key Games on the Oklahoma City Thunder Schedule

Apr 5, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Houston Rockets guard

(13) reacts after being called for a foul in action against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Houston Rockets at Oklahoma City

DATE: Tuesday, March 22, 2016

TIME: 7 p.m. CST

BROADCAST INFO: TNT

LAST SEASON’S RECORD VS. OPPONENT: 0-3

Forget about the history with James Harden and consider this matchup on its own merit. The Rockets were the second-best team in the Western Conference last year, nearly advancing to the Finals before being eliminated by Golden State. They did that on the strength of Harden’s free throw-heavy attack and by spacing the floor with timely shooting.

And they might have gotten even better.

In a high-risk/high-reward move, Houston acquired Ty Lawson from Denver after he became expendable after numerous alcohol-related incidents. Lawson has apparently been seeking help and, if he’s engaged, could make the Rockets even more dangerous offensively. The trade cost the team some depth but with Harden, Dwight Howard and now Lawson, that’s a good core that could carry this team back to the Western Conference Finals.

If that’s the case, this could be a potential preview of a future playoff battle.

This will be the third-of-four meetings between the two teams but it might be the best gauge for how these teams will fare in the postseason.

WATCHABILITY FACTOR: 10 out of 10

Next: Similar End, Different Beginning