Thursday, March 6, 9:00 PM on FSOK, FSAZ

US Airways Center, Phoenix, Arizona

The Phoenix Suns visited the Oklahoma City Thunder for the third game of their NBA season and they went home with a loss tacked onto their record. The Thunder were able to defeat the Suns 103-96 behind Russell Westbrook's early return from injury.

Returning three to five weeks early from a lateral meniscus tear, Westbrook looked a lot like his former self. He finished the game with 21 points, four rebounds, seven assists and a steal. Westbrook never believed he would be out as long as the doctors said and it looked like he was right in returning. Kevin Durant also had a solid game with 33 points, 10 rebounds, one assist and two steals.

The Suns had a lead in the fourth quarter after Eric Bledsoe hit a 3-pointer but Oklahoma City went on to score eight straight points and put the game away for good. Bledsoe had a great game and finished with 26 points, seven rebounds, 14 assists and three steals. However, it wasn't enough to steal a game in Oklahoma City. Gerald Green contributed 21 points, eight rebounds, two assists and a steal for the Suns while Channing Frye pitched in with 19 points and five rebounds.

Oklahoma City has beaten Phoenix the last 10 times these two teams have met. The Thunder are also 7-3 against the spread. The three games the Thunder weren't able to cover on were in Phoenix. On the other hand, Oklahoma City hasn't played well ATS and are well under .500 in their last 10 games.

Phoenix is around .500 ATS over the last month but covered in more recent games.

It will be interesting to see if the head to head matchups play a roll here because the Thunder have owned the spread when matched up with the Suns.

Read more articles by Alan Matthews