The New York Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony and the Houston Rockets’ James Harden today were named Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Dec. 31 through Sunday, Jan. 6.

Anthony, who topped the league in scoring at 36.0 ppg, led New York to a 2-1 week, including a home victory over the San Antonio Spurs. He ended the week with a pair of 40-point performances against the Portland Trail Blazers on Jan. 1 and the Orlando Magic on Dec. 5. His 45 points against the Blazers tied this season’s single-game high (accomplished three times, twice by Anthony and once by Harden).

Harden led the Rockets to the NBA’s lone perfect record on the week at 4-0. He averaged 29.3 points (second in the conference), 3.25 steals (second in the conference) and 5.5 assists as Houston collected home victories over the Atlanta Hawks and New Orleans Hornets, and road victories over the Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers. Harden extended his streak of scoring 25 or more points to 12 games.

via NBA PR