OKC Thunder gameday preview: MVP showdown courtesy of third meeting vs. Rockets

Two MVP candidates in Paul George and James Harden go toe-to-toe, as the OKC Thunder prepare for another matchup against conference rivals Houston Rockets.

Anytime James Harden returns to Oklahoma City, we’re all in for a competitive game. Even though most ill-will towards Harden is long gone, the bad blood between the OKC Thunder and Rockets runs deep. But the Thunder-Rockets matchup has changed drastically over the past couple years, so the scouting reports are a bit different than what we’re all used to.

Both teams enter the game nearing the All-Star break in a fairly similar situation. Neither team had an ideal start to the season but were brought back to life thanks to the efforts of their respective superstars.

Star power plays a big role in this matchup, as James Harden is the current scoring leader and the early favorite for MVP, while Paul George is fourth on the scoring list and a dark horse for MVP.

Watching PG13 and the Beard go toe-to-toe will be the main event, and at the end of the day, Harden is going to get his and so is George.

But there’s plenty of other factors and storylines to consider. Even though we’ve entered a new chapter in the ongoing rivalry between these two teams, it’s always about winning.