The Cleveland Cavaliers? LeBron James and the Dallas Mavericks? Jason Terry today were named the Eastern Conference and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, January 17 through Sunday, January 23.

James led the Cavaliers to a 2-1 week, averaging 24.7 points on 55.9% shooting, 10.3 rebounds, 8.7 assists and 2.0 steals in 41.3 minutes per game.  James became the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double when he posted 27 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists at Portland on January 19. Three days later, he posted another triple-double with 28 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists on January 22 against Golden State.

Terry led the Mavericks to a perfect 4-0 week, averaging 18.3 points on 72.1% shooting and 69.2% three-point shooting, 6.0 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals in wins over Washington, L.A. Clippers, Charlotte and Denver.  Terry had only five turnovers in 156 minutes played to record a 4.8 assist per turnover ratio and a 1.6 steal per turnover ratio.

Other nominees for Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki, Golden State?s Jason Richardson, Indiana?s Jamaal Tinsley, Minnesota?s Wally Szczerbiak, New Jersey?s Vince Carter, New Orleans? Dan Dickau, Orlando?s Steve Francis, Philadelphia?s Allen Iverson,  Portland?s  Damon Stoudamire, San Antonio?s Manu Ginobili, Toronto?s Jalen Rose and Washington?s Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison.

Dirk Nowitski missed five free throws but the Mavericks beat the Nuggets anyway, and it was Nowitski himself who helped secure the victory.  

After missing a pair of foul shots at 5:30 in the fourth with the game tied, Nowitski was also called for an offensive charging violation that erased what would have been the go-ahead basket with 49.9 seconds remaining.

But with 17.9 to go, Nowitski stepped up and converted a conventional three-point play, to put the Mavericks up for good.  Dallas won 95-93.

"Dirk is a special player," Michael Finley said. "A couple games a year you stand back and think how good it is that he's your teammate. This is one of those games. He did what it takes to win."

Nowitzki finished with 35 points and 11 rebounds.

The Mavericks scored an amazing 137 points, the most so far this season.  They had four players score at least 25 points, the first time a team has done that since the 1990 Golden State Warriors.

"It was the good, the bad and the ugly," Nelson said. "It's hard to play with a 30-point lead in the NBA. I guess you should assume people are going to make a run at you. ...We were beautiful in the first half and then got caught up in a rag-tag kind of game and didn't handle it very well."

With a lot of Mavericks players either sick or injured, Dirk Nowitzki?s second period ankle sprain was the last thing Coach Don Nelson and the Dallas fans wanted to see.

After being sent to the locker room the mood was somber at American Airlines Center.  However, in the second half the Mav?s star came back to score 16 of his 26 points and lead a battered Dallas team to a 98-93 victory over an equally battered Nets squad.

Note: Dirk Nowitzki is just 2 points from reaching 10,000 for his career.

Jason Terry continued his hot play since being named a starter, scoring 28 points and effectively running the Mavs' offense in a win over Lakers on Wednesday night.

Terry shot 9 out of 10, made all 5 three pointers he attempted, and was 5 out of 6 from the free throw line. This stat line includes a 12 minutes stretch which gave Dallas the lead during which he either assisted or scored on 27 out of Dallas' 29 points. He also added 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and had just 1 turnover.

His backup, Devin Harris, was 5 out of 6 from the floor, and scored 11 points.

"I think that is the first time that I have been pleased with both point guards in the same game," Dallas coach Don Nelson said.