3 Best OKC Thunder Christmas Day performances
By Ivan White
3. Christmas 2017 - Westbrook outduels Harden in playoff rematch
Russell Westbrook led the Thunder past the Houston Rockets just a few months after the teams met in the first round of the playoffs.
The Rockets won that series 4-1, and both teams had vastly different looks coming into the Christmas Day matchup.
Houston traded for Chris Paul, who did not play in this game and had vaulted to the top seed in the West. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City added Paul George and Carmelo Anthony and was beginning to put things together.
In a tight battle between rivals, the Thunder came out on top 112-107. Westbrook put up 31 points, six rebounds and 11 assists.
While the reigning MVP got to his spots, knocked down some mid-range jumpers and finished at the rim, he did not do it alone.
George and Anthony put up 24 and 20 points, respectively, while Andre Roberson held James Harden to 7-of-18 shooting and added four steals.
After a scoreless first quarter, Westbrook scored in double digits in the next three to get Oklahoma City the win.
His jumper over Eric Gordon with two minutes left put Oklahoma City up five points. Then, he followed that by finding Roberson for an easy layup in transition to put the game away a few possessions later.