The Oklahoma City Thunder will look to avenge their loss to the Houston Rockets in Game 4 as the opening round playoff series between the two teams shifts back to Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Thunder hold a 3-1 lead and fell just short of a series sweep of the Rockets during Monday's 105-103 road loss.
Houston, who set the franchise record for 3s during the regular season, hit 44 percent of their shots from long range during Game 4 and will look to continue that momentum as the series continues. The Rockets are hopeful to see a big game from star player James Harden, who is extremely familiar with the opposition.
Harden spent the first three years of his career as the sixth-man and third scoring option for the young Oklahoma City team before being traded to Houston just before the 2012-13 regular season. Having escaped the shadows of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, Harden emerged as a true franchise player since joining the Rockets, leading the team with 25.9 PPG this season.
The reigning Western Conference champions managed to finish first in the conference this season, despite the absence of Harden off their bench. However, star player Kevin Durant may have another obstacle to overcome with the recent injury to fellow All-Star Russell Westbrook.
Westbrook suffered a torn right meniscus injury during Game 2 last week. Westbrook is out indefinitely and will miss the remainder of the 2013 NBA playoffs, opting for surgery.
This will be a true test for Durant, regarded by many as the league's top scorer, from a leadership standpoint. The duo of Durant and Westbrook have played together since 2008, which spans back to Durant's second season in the NBA.
The heavily favored Thunder have a 34-7 record at home during the 2012-13 NBA season and a 60-22 regular season record.
The game will air live on TNT at 9:30 p.m. ET.
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