The Toronto Raptors’ DeMar DeRozan and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant were today named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, December 7 through Sunday, December 13.
DeRozan led the Raptors to a 4-0 week, averaging 24.0 points (third in the conference), 5.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.0 steals while shooting 51.7 percent from the field and 91.9 percent from the free throw line. DeRozan matched his career record, scoring 25-or-more points in three consecutive games, and led Toronto with a game-high 28 points against San Antonio on December 9.
Durant led Oklahoma City to a 4-0 record behind averages of 27.3 points (third in the league), 8.8 rebounds, 6.3 assists (ninth in conference), and 1.8 steals. He shot 59.7 percent from the floor (fourth in the conference) while scoring 30 or more points in two games and was 26-of-27 (96.3 percent) from the foul line. Durant recorded his first triple-double of the season when he scored 25 points to go with 12 rebounds and 10 assists against Atlanta on December 10. The next night, he scored 21 points, including the Thunder’s final 11, in a 94-90 road win over Utah.
Here is a recap of the week for DeRozan and Durant:
DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors
December 7 v L.A. Lakers: Scored 16 points and dished out six assists in a 102-93 win over the Lakers.
December 9 v San Antonio: Posted 28 points and six assists in a 97-94 victory over the Spurs.
December 11 v Milwaukee: Notched 27 points in a 90-83 victory over the Bucks.
December 13 v Philadelphia: Scored 25 points and grabbed eight rebounds in a 96-76 win over the 76ers.
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
December 8 @ Memphis: Finished with 32 points and 10 rebounds in a 125-88 win over the Grizzlies.
December 10 v Atlanta: Tallied his first triple-double of the season with 25 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in a 107-94 win over the Hawks.
December 11 @ Utah: Scored 21 points, including the team’s final 11, to go with eight rebounds in a 94-90 win over the Jazz.
December 13 v Utah: Recorded 31 points and dished out six assists in a 104-98 overtime victory over the Jazz.
Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Boston’s Isaiah Thomas, Chicago’s Pau Gasol, Cleveland’s LeBron James, L.A. Clippers’ Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook, Philadelphia’s Jahlil Okafor and Phoenix’s Eric Bledsoe.
© AFP
