NEW YORK –The Indiana Pacers’ Paul George and the LA Clippers’ Chris Paul today
were named the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month,
respectively, for games played in April.
George averaged an NBA-high 32.8 points and added 8.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists
as the Pacers went 5-1 in April to clinch a playoff spot for the sixth time in
seven seasons. He scored at least 30 points in four of six games, including a
season-high 43 points in a 135-130 double-overtime loss to the Cleveland
Cavaliers on April 2. The 26-year-old forward shot 54.8 percent from the field
and 42.4 percent from three-point range for the month. He also finished third in
the NBA in steals with 2.17 per game. George and the Pacers will visit the
Cavaliers on Saturday, April 15 for Game 1 of a first-round postseason series (3
p.m. ET, ABC).
Paul led the Clippers to a 5-0 month behind averages of 21.2 points, 9.8 assists
(fourth in the NBA) and 5.0 rebounds, helping LA clinch the fourth seed in the
Western Conference and secure home-court advantage against the Utah Jazz in the
first round of the playoffs. The 31-year-old guard shot 54.4 percent from the
field and 52.6 percent from three-point range and went 22-for-22 from the free
throw line in April. He finished with 19 points, eight rebounds and eight
assists in a 98-87 road win against the San Antonio Spurs on April 8. The
Clippers, who have made the playoffs a franchise-record six consecutive seasons
since acquiring Paul, will host the Jazz in Game 1 on April 15 (10:30 p.m. ET,
ESPN).
Here is a recap of April for George and Paul:
Paul George, Indiana Pacers
April 4 vs. Toronto: Notched 35 points, 10 rebounds and three assists in a
108-90 victory against the Raptors.
April 6 vs. Milwaukee: Finished with 23 points, 10 rebounds and five steals in a
104-89 win over the Bucks.
April 12 vs. Atlanta: Made five three-pointers on his way to 32 points and added
11 rebounds in a 104-86 victory over the Hawks.
Chris Paul, LA Clippers
April 1 vs. L.A. Lakers: Recorded 29 points, 12 assists and four rebounds in a
115-104 win against the Lakers.
April 5 vs. Dallas: Registered 22 points, 11 assists and three rebounds in a
112-101 win over the Mavericks.
April 10 vs. Houston: Contributed 19 points, nine assists, five rebounds and
four steals in a 125-96 victory against the Rockets.
Other nominees for the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the
Month were Boston’s Isaiah Thomas, Chicago’s Jimmy Butler, Cleveland’s LeBron
James, Golden State’s Stephen Curry, Houston’s James Harden, the Clippers’ Blake
Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns, Portland’s Damian
Lillard, Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan and Utah’s Gordon Hayward.
