MINNEAPOLIS -- There was no post-All-Star hangover for Kevin Love, and the NBA decided to officially recognize it Monday.
The Timberwolves forward received his second Western Conference player of the week distinction of the season. Love averaged 36.7 points (second in the NBA) on 57.1-percent shooting, 12.7 rebounds (fourth) and 3.7 assists per game, nailed 13 of 28 3-pointers and made 25 of 29 free throws in games against Indiana, Utah and Portland.
Love also wrought player of the week honors for games played between Oct. 29 and Nov. 3. The most recent honor encompasses contests between Feb. 17 and Feb. 23.
Not since 2003-04 -- Minnesota's last postseason appearance -- had the Timberwolves possessed more than one player of the week in a single season.
Coming off his first All-Star Game start, Love began the week with 42 points and 16 rebounds in a 104-91 victory over Indiana. Then came his first career triple-double Saturday at Utah -- 37 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. In Sunday night's loss at Portland, Love notched 31 points and 10 rebounds.
It was his 10th straight game with 25 or more points and 10-plus rebounds, the longest streak since Shaquille O'Neal produced 13 such outputs in 2001.
Love did it all without the services of starting center Nikola Pekovic. The past two games, Love played a lot more at center with backup five-man Ronny Turiaf also out due to injury.
With season averages of 26.3 points, 13.1 rebounds and four assists, Love is on pace to become the first player to record such numbers for an entire season since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1975-76.
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