April 2016 Basketball Wiretap

Isaiah Thomas, Russell Westbrook Named NBA Players Of The Week

Dec 26, 2016 5:56 PM

Isaiah Thomas and Russell Westbrook have been named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Dec. 19 through Sunday, Dec. 25.

Thomas led the Eastern Conference in scoring (33.3 ppg) and ranked sixth in assists (7.3 apg) as the Celtics went 3-1, with all three wins coming on the road. He scored a career-high 44 points, including 36 in the second half, in a 112-109 overtime win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Dec. 20. Thomas shot 48.8 percent from the field and 90.7 percent (39-for-43) from the free throw line for the week. He matched his season high with 10 assists in a 117-112 loss to the Thunder on Dec. 23.

Westbrook led the Thunder to a 3-1 week, averaging a league-high 41.0 points, 10.0 assists and 9.8 rebounds. He became only the third player in history to log three straight games with at least 40 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, joining Elgin Baylor, who did it twice, and Wilt Chamberlain. Westbrook notched his league-leading 14th triple-double of the season with 45 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in Oklahoma City’s win over the Celtics. It was his sixth career triple-double with at least 40 points, placing him third all-time behind Oscar Robertson (22) and Chamberlain (seven).   

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Tags: Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA Award

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DeMar DeRozan, James Harden Named Players Of The Week

Dec 19, 2016 4:13 PM

The Toronto Raptors’ DeMar DeRozan and the Houston Rockets’ James Harden were named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Dec. 12 through Sunday, Dec. 18.

DeRozan led the Raptors to a 3-1 week, averaging a league-high 31.5 points on 60.5 percent shooting to go with 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists. This marks the second time this season he has scored at least 30 points in four consecutive games. DeRozan also shot over 50.0 percent from the field in all four games. On Dec. 16, he tallied 34 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals in a 125-121 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. On Dec. 18, he finished with 31 points, three rebounds and three assists in a 109-79 victory over the Orlando Magic.

Harden led the Rockets to a 4-0 week behind averages of 27.0 points (third in the West), a league-best 12.8 assists, 9.8 rebounds and 1.0 steals. He recorded back-to-back triple-doubles in victories over the Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans, giving him six for the season and 15 for his career. Harden surpassed Hakeem Olajuwon for most triple-doubles in Rockets franchise history. He tallied at least 20 points and 10 assists in three of four games, giving him 18 such games this season, tops in the league.   

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Tags: DeMar DeRozan, James Harden, Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors, NBA, NBA Award

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Marc Gasol, LeBron James Named NBA Players Of The Week

Dec 12, 2016 3:21 PM

LeBron James and Marc Gasol have been named the NBA's Players of the Week.

In four games this past week, James led the Cavaliers to the best record in the Eastern Conference at 4-0 after he averaged an NBA-high 32.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 2.25 steals in 38.5 minutes. He shot .585 from the field and .409 from the three-point line. 

Gasol averaged 27.3 points, 10 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game for the Grizzlies.

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Tags: Cleveland Cavaliers, Memphis Grizzlies, NBA, NBA Award

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Giannis Antetokounmpo, Russell Westbrook Named NBA Players Of The Week

Dec 5, 2016 3:41 PM

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Russell Westbrook have been named the NBA's Players of the Week.

Antetokounmpo previously was Player of the Week in February of 2015.

Antetokounmpo averaged 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 3.7 steals and 3.0 blocks per game during the week while leading the Bucks to a perfect 3-0 record. 

Westbrook led the Thunder to a 3-0 week behind averages of 30.0 points (third in NBA), 16.0 rebounds (second in NBA) and a West-leading 12.3 assists. 

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Tags: NBA, NBA Award

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Jamal Murray, Joel Embiid Named Rookies Of The Month

Dec 1, 2016 4:44 PM

Jamal Murray and Joel Embiid have been named the Rookies of the Month for October and November.

Murray is averaging 10.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in his first 18 games. Murray is shooting 41.6 percent on three-pointers.

Embiid is averaging 18.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.3 blocks per game. Embiid missed the first two seasons of his career due to injury and is a rookie despite being in the 2014 NBA Draft class.

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Tags: Jamal Murray, Joel Embiid, Denver Nuggets, Philadelphia Sixers, NBA, NBA Award

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LeBron James, Russell Westbrook Named Players Of The Month

Dec 1, 2016 4:38 PM

LeBron James and Russell Westbrook have been named the NBA's Players of the Month for November.

This past October and November, James averaged 23.5 points, 8.1 rebounds and 9.3 assists in 35.9 minutes as the Cavaliers went 13-2 in the 15 contests he appeared in. He also shot .498 from the field, .362 from beyond the arc and .720 from the foul line. The 6-8 forward won the Eastern Conference Player of the Week twice in the opening month (weeks ending October 30 and November 6) and registered nine double-doubles and a conference-best three triple-doubles (Oct. 25 vs. New York, Nov. 23 vs. Portland and Nov. 27 at Philadelphia). Among Eastern Conference leaders, James ranked first in plus/minus (+159), tied for first in assists per game (9.3), fourth in field goals made per game (8.5), sixth in points per game (23.5), tied for sixth in double-doubles (9) and tied for 13th in rebounds per game (8.1).

Westbrook is averaging a triple-double through 20 games for the 12-8 Thunder. Westbrook ranks second in the NBA in scoring (31.2 points), second in assists (11.3 assists) and 11th in rebounds (10.5 rebounds).

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Tags: Cleveland Cavaliers, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA Award

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LeBron James Named Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson Of The Year

Dec 1, 2016 11:01 AM

LeBron James has been named Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson of the Year after leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to the 2016 NBA championship.

James scored 41 points in Games 5 and 6 of The Finals and made a key block in the final minutes of Game 7.

Tiger Woods is the only previous two-time winner of the award.

AP

Tags: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA Award

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