A week after being named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week on 22 November. the duo of New York Knick’s Amar`e Stoudemire and Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook have done it again.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) today named the pair as the Players of the Week for the second time for games played between 29 November and 5 December .
Amar`e Stoudemire
Stoudemire, who narrowly lost out on the player of the month award for November to Dwight Howard , led the Knicks to a 3-0 run with a fine blend of offensive genius complemented by his rock solid defence.
The 6ft 10in guard has been pivotal to the Knicks plans this season, and is the main reason New York are currently riding high on a five match winning streak, fulfilling every prospect they envisioned while signing him.
Stoudemire has 24.9 points per game this season, spearheaded the Knicks averaging 33.3 points on an impressive 0.588 shooting from the field, and 11.7 rebounds in the week under the spotlight.
He scored 30 or more points in all three games, and notched up a double-double twice on points and rebounds. His 31 points (fourth 30 plus score in a row) and season-high 16 rebounds at Toronto on Sunday helped New York extend its road winning streak to
seven, making the Knicks one of the most successful away teams this season.
Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook was declared the best player in the Western Conference, as he averaged 25.5 points, 10.0 assists 7.5 rebounds, 3.0 steals and shouldered the huge burden of carrying a Kevin Durant – less, Oklahoma City Thunders to a 3-1 record during the
week.
The highlight of the week came in the match against the New Jersey on Wednesday night, where the guard helped his franchise accomplish something they had never done before – winning a triple overtime contest. In a back-and-forth affair featuring 19 lead
changes and 13 ties, Russell Westbrook scored 38 points, a career high 15 rebounds complemented with nine assists. He also set a franchise record by scoring all 13 of the Thunder’s triple overtime points to help secure a 123-120 win.
Westbrook registered double-doubles in all three Thunder wins in the week.
Other Nominees
Other nominees included Atlanta Hawks’ Al Horford, Boston Celtics’ Kevin Garnett, Charlotte Bobcats’ Boris Diaw, Detroit Pistons’ Tayshaun Prince, Miami Heat’s LeBron James and Dywane Wade, Orlando Magics’ Vince Carter, Phoenix's Steve Nash, San Antonio
Spurs’ Tim Duncan and Toronto Raptors’ Andrea Bargnani.
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