The NBA Monday announced that Los Angeles Clippers’ point guard Chris Paul has been named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, March 26, through Sunday, April 1. Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics earned the honor for the Eastern Conference.
Paul guided the Clippers to a 4-0 mark, averaging 21.5 points on 56 percent shooting, while dishing out 11.3 assists per contest. He began the week with 25 points and 10 assists, as the Clippers defeated Paul’s former team, the New Orleans Hornets, 97-85 on March 26. Paul, who ranks third in the NBA in assists (8.8 apg), matched his season high with 15 assists in a 103-86 win over the Phoenix Suns on March 28.
Pierce led the Celtics to a 4-0 week, averaging 25.0 points (nearly six above his season average), 8.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists. He scored a season-high 36 points, to go with 10 rebounds in a 102-95 victory over Charlotte on March 26. He capped off the week with a team-high 23 points, seven rebounds and three assists in a 91-72 triumph over the Miami Heat on April 1, the Celtics’ fifth win in a row.
Here is a recap of the week for Paul and Pierce:
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
March 26 vs. New Orleans: Scored 25 points, and added 10 assists and four steals in a 97-85 win over the Hornets.
March 28 vs. Phoenix: Scored 15 points, and matched a season high with 15 assists in a 103-86 win over the Suns.
March 30 vs. Portland: Tallied 20 points, 14 assists and four steals in a 98-97 victory over the Trail Blazers.
Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
March 26 @ Charlotte: Scored a season-high 36 points, to go with 10 rebounds in a 102-95 win over the Bobcats.
March 30 @ Minnesota: Tallied 21 points, nine rebounds and two assists in a 100-79 win over the Timberwolves.
April 1 vs. Miami: Poured in a team-high 23 points, and added seven rebounds, three assists and two steals in a 91-72 victory over the Heat.
Other nominees for the Western and Eastern Conference Players of the Week were the Clippers’ Blake Griffin, Boston’s Kevin Garnett, Detroit’s Tayshaun Prince, New Jersey’s Deron Williams, New York’s Carmelo Anthony and Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook.
