USA TODAY International Edition
Harden stays in MVP lead
USA TODAY Sports’ top five candidates for the NBA MVP award ( through Week 21, from March 19 to Sunday; records and standings through Sunday).
Also receiving votes: Warriors’ Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry, Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo, Wizards’ John Wall
5. ISAIAH THOMAS, CELTICS
Season statistics: 29.1 points, 5.9 assists, 2.6 rebounds, 0.9 steals, 46.2% shooting
Thomas has carried Boston to the top spot in the Eastern Conference. He’s not only in the MVP conversation, but with career highs in scoring and shooting percentages across the board, he’s also in the most- improved player conversation. Thomas’ turnaround and his night- by- night, fourth- quarter heroics have undoubtedly been one of the NBA’s top story lines this season. But it hasn’t been enough to warrant anything higher than our No. 5 spot. That’s hardly a knock against him; the rest of the race is just too tight.
4. KAWHI LEONARD, SPURS
Season statistics: 26.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.8 steals, 48.6% shooting
As he continues to add to his offensive repertoire, Leonard — arguably the NBA’s top two- way player — has led San Antonio to yet another 55- win season. The only problem? We’re in the midst of one of the tightest MVP races in NBA history. At this point, there’s no question Leonard deserves to be MVP. The question is: Does he deserve it more than these next three guys?
3. LEBRON JAMES, CAVALIERS
Season statistics: 26.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, 8.4 assists, 1.2 steals, 54.2% shooting
James — who’s averaging the most rebounds and assists of his career while shooting the third highest he ever has from the field and beyond the arc — is having an MVP- worthy season. Because of Cleveland’s recent struggles ( second- worst defense in the NBA since the All- Star break) and the fact he has missed six games ( five for rest) while Russell Westbrook and James Harden both are on pace for 82, James might not finish any higher than third in this year’s voting.
2. RUSSELL WESTBROOK, THUNDER
Season statistics: 31.4 points, 10.5 rebounds, 10.4 assists, 1.6 steals, 42.3% shooting
On paper, Westbrook outperformed Harden when the two faced off Sunday. He finished with 39 points ( on 13- for- 24 shooting), 13 assists and 11 rebounds — his 36th triple- double of the season. Harden finished with 22 points ( on 8- for- 15 shooting), 12 assists and five rebounds before leaving late in the game with a minor wrist injury. But it was Harden who led his Rockets to a 137- 125 victory, ending the season series with the Thunder up 3- 1.
Westbrook’s quest for history continues; he needs five more triple- doubles to tie Oscar Robertson for most in a season, and he has 10 games remaining in the regular season. But the question remains: Are Westbrook’s numbers enough to take home the MVP award despite the fact his team likely won’t finish any higher than fifth in the Western Conference?
1. JAMES HARDEN, ROCKETS
Season statistics: 29.4 points, 11.3 assists, 8.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 44.8% shooting
Westbrook’s MVP case is fueled by his triple- double diet, while Harden’s is fueled by the fact that he’s pacing this highoctane Rockets squad to the second- winningest season in franchise history. Harden is on pace to become the second player in NBA history to average at least 28 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds in a season. He also has the most 40- point triple- doubles in a season in league history ( six) and is just the third player to have 2,000 points and 800 assists in a season. What’s more, Harden gets to the line more than anybody in the league, leading the NBA in both free throws made ( 9.3) and attempted ( 10.9).