NEW YORK, Nov. 14, 2016 – The Toronto Raptors’ DeMar DeRozan and the Houston Rockets’ James Harden today were named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Nov. 7 through Sunday, Nov. 13.
DeRozan led the Raptors to a 3-0 week, averaging a league-leading 34.7 points to go with 4.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists. On Nov. 9, he scored 37 points and added six assists and four rebounds in a 112-102 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. He followed that performance with 34 points, three assists and two steals in a 113-111 victory against the Charlotte Hornets on Nov. 11. DeRozan leads the NBA in scoring (34.0 ppg) and has an NBA-best eight 30-point games this season. He is the first player to score at least 30 points in eight of his first nine games of a season since Michael Jordan in 1986-87.
Harden helped the Rockets to a 2-1 week behind averages of 27.0 points, 14.3 assists (first in NBA) and 9.7 rebounds. He opened the week on Nov. 7, finishing with 32 points, 15 assists and six rebounds in a 114-106 win against the Washington Wizards. Harden added a triple-double on Nov. 9, recording 24 points, 15 assists and 12 rebounds in a 101-99 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. Harden has recorded at least 24 points and 12 assists in each of the past six games, the longest streak in NBA history.
Here is a recap of the week for DeRozan and Harden:
DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors
Nov. 9 @ Oklahoma City: Finished with 37 points, six assists and four rebounds in a 112-102 win over the Thunder.
Nov. 11 @ Charlotte: Recorded 34 points, three assists and two steals in a 113-111 victory over the Hornets.
Nov. 12 vs. New York: Contributed 33 points, seven rebounds and two steals in a 118-107 win over the Knicks.
James Harden, Houston Rockets
Nov. 7 @ Washington: Finished with 32 points, 15 assists and six rebounds in a 114-106 victory over the Wizards.
Nov. 9 @ San Antonio: Posted 24 points, 15 assists and 12 rebounds in a 101-99 victory over the Spurs.
Nov. 12 vs. San Antonio: Recorded 25 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds in a 106-100 loss to the Spurs.
Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Atlanta’s Dennis Schroder, Brooklyn’s Brook Lopez, Charlotte’s Kemba Walker, Chicago’s Jimmy Butler, Golden State’s Stephen Curry, the LA Clippers’ Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, Minnesota’s Andrew Wiggins, New Orleans’ Anthony Davis, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid and Utah’s Gordon Hayward.
