It appears that Russell Westbrook will be named the 2017 NBA MVP, based on compilations of publicly available votes. James Harden, meanwhile, is going up head-to-head with Westbrook in the first round of the NBA playoffs, and isn’t ready to concede the race even though all votes have been handed in.
Psst, James Harden, it’s too late for people to change their NBA MVP votes
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Harden put up 37 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds as the Rockets beat the Thunder by 31. Patrick Beverley and the crew held Westbrook to 22 on 6-of-23 shooting.
Meanwhile, the Warriors survived a shootout against C.J. McCollum and the Blazers; the Bulls won what was a highly emotional game for Isaiah Thomas, who lost his sister in a Saturday car crash; and the Wizards took care of business behind a John Wall gem. More below.
Playoff Scores
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C.J. McCollum was absolutely ridiculous in the first half of Blazers-Warriors, but it was Draymond Green who bent the game to his will in the end. He’s one of a kind.
Brad Stevens told Isaiah he didn’t have to play and could take himself out of the game at any time if he wasn’t feeling up to it. He ended up playing 38 minutes, scoring a game-high 33 and finishing a team-high +12. Boston gave him all their love when he hit his first three and throughout the game. In the end, Jimmy Butler was just too good.
Westbrook and Harden, who are good friends, aren’t communicating at all during their playoff series. By the way, Westbrook is leading 9-5 in Matt Ellentuck’s MVP Scorecard race, though I think that Spalding meme is extremely generous.
Monday schedule:
Pacers vs. Cavaliers, 7 p.m. ET, TNT (CLE leads 1-0)
Grizzlies vs. Spurs, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT (SAS leads 1-0)
The Clippers lost in humiliating fashion on Saturday night. Don’t blame Chris Paul, writes Zito Madu.
I’m not going to say that the Wizards are a little goofy because I’m just not sure how far they are taking this “Death Row D.C.” thing, to be honest.
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