Wade, Nowitzki named Players of the Week

NEW YORK -- The Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade and the Dallas Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Dec. 1, through Sunday, Dec. 7.

Wade and Nowitzki, the only two players in the league to average 30-plus points last week, also won the award on Nov. 24.

Wade, who averaged an NBA-best 32.7 ppg for the week, led the Heat in scoring in all three games, guiding Miami to a 3-0 mark. The three-game winning streak is Miami's first since April 3-6, 2007. Wade has tallied nine 30-plus point games this season (league-best). After dishing out a season-high 13 assists on Dec. 1 at Golden State, the next game out, Wade passed P.J. Brown for fourth on the Heat's all-time blocked shots list with his two rejections on Dec. 3 at Utah.

Nowitzki averaged 30.7 points and 10.0 rebounds in helping the Mavericks to a 3-0 week and perfect start to their season-long seven-game homestand. Nowitzki led the team in scoring in each game, including a season-high-tying 39 points on Dec. 4 vs. Phoenix, a game in which he set a career high for field goals made with 17. On the season, Nowitzki ranks fourth in scoring average (25.0 ppg) and is tied for fifth in free-throw percentage (.922).

Here is a closer look at the week for Wade and Nowitzki:

Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat

Dec. 1 @ Golden State: Tallied 37 points, a season-high 13 assists, five rebounds and three blocks in a 130-129 win over the Warriors.
Dec. 3 @ Utah: Recorded 23 points, five rebounds, five assists, four steals and two blocks in a 93-89 win over the Jazz.
Dec. 6 vs. Oklahoma City: Poured in 38 points and added seven assists, five rebounds, two blocks and two steals in a 105-99 win against the Thunder.

Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks

Dec. 2 vs. L.A. Clippers: Recorded 29 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals in a 100-98 win over the Clippers.
Dec. 4 vs. Phoenix: Tied a season-high with 39 points on a career best 17 field goals in a 112-97 win against the Suns.
Dec. 6 vs. Atlanta: Tallied 24 points, 11 rebounds and three assists in a 100-98 win over the Hawks.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Atlanta's Joe Johnson, Boston's Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo, Cleveland's Zydrunas Ilgauskas and LeBron James, Denver's Chauncey Billups, Houston's Yao Ming, New Jersey's Devin Harris, New Orleans' Chris Paul and Peja Stojakovic, and Orlando's Dwight Howard.