AJ Neuharth-Keusch

USA TODAY Sports

USA TODAY Sports' top five candidates for the 2016-17 NBA MVP award (from Monday, March 27 through Sunday, April 2).

Also receiving votes: Chicago Bulls' Jimmy Butler, Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry, Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo

► Power rankings: Raptors hitting stride, Pacers in trouble

► ROY race: Saric, Brogdon neck-and-neck

5. Isaiah Thomas, Boston Celtics (50-27)

Season statistics: 29.1 points, 5.9 assists, 2.6 rebounds, 0.9 steals, 46.3% shooting

The Celtics, who are the No. 1 seed in the East, have a must-watch tilt with the second-seeded Cavaliers on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET, ESPN). The Celtics are ½ game ahead of the defending champs, and if they win their fourth and final matchup of the season, would avoid giving the Cavs the tiebreaker. The game will be yet another chance for Thomas — who's averaging 30.7 points (on 50% shooting) and 6.7 assists against Cleveland this season — to shine on the big stage. He may not make as strong of a case as the next four guys on this list, but his season-long heroics will certainly get his name on some ballots.

4. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers (49-27)

Season statistics: 26.3 points, 8.7 assists, 8.5 rebounds, 1.2 steals, 54.4% shooting

James' week was highlighted by his 41-point, 16-rebound, 11-assist, 52-minute outing in a double-overtime win over the Pacers on Sunday. He came up big down the stretch, as he hit a three-pointer in the final minute of the second overtime and found Kevin Love for a three on the next possession. What made headlines, though, was James' heated argument with teammate Tristan Thompson, which took place right after Love's three-pointer.

After the game, James expressed remorse for the incident. "I've got to do a better job of not showing up my teammates out on the floor," James said on the Fox Sports Ohio broadcast. "I had the right intentions in my mind, but I had the wrong intentions come out of my mouth."

3. Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs (59-17)

Season statistics: 25.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.8 steals, 48.3% shooting

Leonard put together a solid performance in Monday night's rout of Cleveland, tallying 25 points, six rebounds, six assists and three steals in 30 minutes. He went 11-for-21 from the field, though he missed all seven of his three-point attempts. He struggled on Wednesday night against Draymond Green and Co., finishing with just 19 points on 7-of-20 shooting while watching a 22-point first-quarter lead turn into a 110-98 loss. Then on Friday night against the Thunder, Leonard led a 21-point comeback and converted a game-clinching and-one in the final seconds. He finished with 28 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two blocks.

2. James Harden, Houston Rockets (52-25)

Season statistics: 29.2 points, 11.2 assists, 8.1 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 44.1% shooting

The margin for error is minuscule in an MVP race as tight as this one, especially during this final stretch, which is why Harden comes in at No. 2 for the first time since December. Harden, who has been dealing with a left wrist injury that's clearly affecting his play, sat out of his first game of the season on Sunday night. In six games since the injury, which he suffered on March 18 against Denver and appeared to re-aggravate last Sunday against Oklahoma City, he's still averaging 28.3 points, 10.8 assists and 8.3 rebounds, but has seen his shooting percentages dip to 39% from the field and 25.8% from three.

In Houston's two losses to Golden State this week, Harden made just nine of his 38 shots from the field (23.6%) and three of his 18 attempts from three-point land (16.6%). In Thursday's loss to Portland, he made just two of his 13 three-point attempts (15.4%) — which begs the question: With the Rockets essentially locked in as the No. 3 seed in the West, should he take some time off to ensure that he's 100% come playoff time?

“(Rest) for what?,” he told USA TODAY Sports' Sam Amick on Friday when asked about possibly sitting anytime soon. “It’s messing with my rhythm a little bit, not just tonight but the last week or so. But I’ll be alright. It’s a little (frustrating). I’ll be alright. I’m strong enough."

MORE MVP:

NBA MVP race down to James Harden vs. Russell Westbrook

James Harden's MVP pursuit puts Rockets in tough spot

1. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder (43-33)

Season statistics: 31.9 points, 10.6 rebounds, 10.4 assists, 1.7 steals, 42.5% shooting

Of all of Westbrook's MVP-caliber performances this season, two of the most memorable came this week. On Monday night against Dallas, he orchestrated a 14-0 run in the final 3:30, capped off with a jumper in the closing seconds to give the Thunder a one-point victory. He scored 16 of Oklahoma City's last 18 points and finished with 37 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for his 37th triple-double of the season.

Two nights later, he poured in 57 points — the most points scored in a triple-double in NBA history — 13 rebounds and 11 assists. His performance was highlighted by yet another late-game comeback, as he dug the Thunder out of a 21-point hole and hit a game-tying three-pointer in the final seconds to force overtime, where the Thunder went on to win 114-106.

Westbrook has a chance to tie Oscar Robertson for the most single-season triple-doubles in NBA history (41) against the Bucks on Tuesday night.

List of voters: USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Zillgitt, Sam Amick, Kevin Spain, AJ Neuharth-Keusch and Michael Singer; The Arizona Republic's Doug Haller; The (Memphis) Commercial Appeal's Ronald Tillery; Detroit Free Press' Vince Ellis; Indianapolis Star's Nate Taylor; The (Bergen) Record's Steve Popper; HoopsHype.com's Jorge Sierra and Raul Barrigon; USA TODAY Sports Weekly's Howard Megdal; For The Win's Adi Joseph.