The Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade and the Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul today were named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, March 16, through Sunday, March 22.
Wade led the Heat to a 3-1 week, averaging 24.5 points (second in the East), 4.0 assists and 2.25 steals (fourth in the conference). He shot 53.2 percent from the field, including a 13-of-18 performance during a 32-point outing in a 106-92 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 16. The All-Star guard also scored 32 points and added six assists in a 108-104 win against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 18.
Paul powered the Clippers to one of the NBA’s two 4-0 weeks. He ranked fifth in the NBA in scoring (26.0 ppg) and second in the West in assists (11.3 apg). The All-Star guard had 30 points and 11 assists in a 116-105 victory against the Sacramento Kings on March 18, and two nights later he contributed 30 points and 15 assists in a 113-99 win over the Washington Wizards. Paul totaled 45 assists and seven turnovers in the four games.
Here is a recap of the week for Wade and Paul:
Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
March 16 v Cleveland: Scored 32 points (on 13-of-18 shooting from the field) and added five steals in a 106-92 win against the Cavaliers.
March 18 v Portland: Recorded 32 points, six assists and four rebounds in a 108-104 victory over the Trail Blazers.
March 20 v Denver: Finished with 22 points and four assists in a 108-91 win over the Nuggets.
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
March 18 @ Sacramento: Scored 30 points and added 11 assists in a 116-105 win over the Kings.
March 20 v Washington: Posted 30 points, 15 assists and six rebounds in a 113-99 win against the Wizards.
March 22 v New Orleans: Collected 23 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds and four steals in a 107-100 victory over the Pelicans.
Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Cleveland’s LeBron James, Detroit’s Reggie Jackson, Houston’s James Harden, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook, Orlando’s Elfrid Payton, Phoenix’s Eric Bledsoe and P.J. Tucker, Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard and Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan.
