James, Bryant Named Players of the Month
The Miami Heat’s LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant today were named the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month, respectively, for games played in February.
James captured his fourth straight Kia NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month award by helping the Heat to a league-best 12-1 record, including a current 12-game winning streak. James paced the NBA in scoring (29.7 ppg), tied for the highest field goal percentage (.641), and ranked ninth in both assists (7.8 apg) and steals (1.85 spg). He also averaged a team-high 7.5 rebounds. James scored at least 30 points and shot at least 60 percent from the floor in an NBA-record six straight games (Feb. 3-12). He scored at least 20 points in 12 games, including 11 games with at least 25 points, eight games with 30-or-more points, and one 40-point effort.
Bryant guided Los Angeles to a 9-4 month, pacing the team in points with 23.9 ppg and assists with 6.6 apg, while adding 6.7 rpg. Bryant closed the month with four games (three victories) of at least 29 points, including a 40-point effort — his fifth this season — on 15-of-23 shooting in the Lakers’ 111-107 win over Portland Feb. 22. He recorded three games of at least 30 points, giving him 24 for the season, which ties Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant for the most such games in 2012-13.
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