Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder will face the Rockets on Sunday in a highly anticipated Western Conference matchup.

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What’s better than a No. 1 vs. No. 2 game on a Sunday?

Two top-two teams battle it out as the West-leading Thunder visit a Rockets team that is off to its best 20-game start since 2017-18 (7:00 p.m. ET, NBA League Pass).

• Houston’s rise began late last season when the Rockets pushed for the SoFi Play-In Tournament. As of March 1, Houston (30-13) has the third-best record in the NBA behind Boston (34-9) and its current opponent, OKC (31-11).

The Thunder and Rockets are not only 1st and 2nd in the Western Conference standings, but also 1st and 2nd in defensive rating in the entire NBA – OKC with 102.8 points allowed per 100 possessions and Houston right behind with 103.7 .

This matchup features Seven the top 10 Defensive player in the NBA (according to DefRtg, at least 30 minutes per game).

• OKC’s Isaiah Hartenstein (93.3)
• Houston’s Dillon Brooks (99.4)
• Houston’s Alperen Shengün (101.6)
• OKC’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (103.3)
• Houston’s Fred VanVleet (103.4)
• OKC’s Jalen Williams (104.6)
• Houston’s Jalen Green (105.7)

Complete defense in court

Both teams excel at taking away the game’s most efficient scoring zones – shots at the rim and shots from outside the arc.

• Inside: The Thunder (54.4%) and Rockets (55.9%) rank first and second, respectively, with the lowest field goal percentage allowed within six feet of the basket.
• How good is that? They hold their opponents 7.3 and 6.7 percent lower around the basket than usual.
• Outside: The Thunder (33.7%) and Rockets (33.8%) rank third and fourth, respectively, in lowest three-point percentage allowed.

Game within the game

With two teams so evenly matched, finding areas to gain advantage will be crucial to success.

• Fasting break: The Rockets are constantly looking for transit scoring opportunities and rank second in the NBA with 18.7 fast break points per game. Can OKC prevent the Rockets from getting easy balls?
• Sales: The Thunder capitalize on their opponents’ mistakes and lead the league in turnovers (21.3). Can Houston limit its turnovers to two steals per game against a Thunder team that leads the league in steals (11.9)?