Bryant, Wade named Players of the Month

The Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade and the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month presented by Kia Motors, respectively, for games played during the month of December.

Wade led the NBA in scoring (for the second consecutive month) at 29.2 ppg, tallying double figures in all 13 of Miami's games, including 11 games with 20 or more points, six games with 30 or more points and two 40-point performances. For the month, Wade let the Heat in scoring 11 times, in assists nine times, in steals eight times and in blocks six times. Wade averaged 6.3 apg, 5.3 rpg and 1.85 spg during December as the Heat tallied a 9-4 mark.

Bryant helped the Lakers to an 11-4 record in December, which tied with Dallas and San Antonio as the best Western Conference mark for the month. Bryant's 28.2 ppg was second in the league to Wade's 29.2 ppg. Scoring in double figures in all 15 of the Lakers' contests, Bryant tallied 30-plus points five times and eclipsed the 40-point plateau once. Bryant and the Lakers were a perfect 7-0 at Staples Center during December, winning their home games by an average of 9.6 ppg.

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Here is a closer look at the month for Wade and Bryant:

Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat

Dec. 1 @ Golden State: Netted 37 points and set a career-high with 13 assists in a 130-129 overtime win against the Warriors.

Dec. 8 vs. Charlotte: Tallied 41 points, eight rebounds and three assists in Miami's 100-96 win over the Bobcats.

Dec. 20 @ New Jersey: Recorded a season-high 43 points, five assists, four rebounds, two steals and two blocks in a 106-103 win over the Nets.

Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

Dec. 3 @ Philadelphia: Recorded 32 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals in a 114-102 win over the 76ers.

Dec. 20 @ Orlando: Tallied a season-high 41 points, and added eight rebounds and three assists in the Lakers' 106-103 loss at Orlando.

Dec. 28 vs. Golden State: Registered 31 points, three rebounds, four assists and four steals in a 130-113 win over the Warriors.

Other nominees for Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month presented by Kia Motors were Atlanta's Joe Johnson, Charlotte's Emeka Okafor, Cleveland's LeBron James, Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki, Houston's Yao Ming, New Jersey's Devin Harris, New Orleans' Chris Paul, Orlando's Jameer Nelson, Phoenix's Amar'e Stoudemire and Portland's Brandon Roy.

The Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month presented by Kia Motors are part of a series of on-court performance awards called "The NBA Performance Awards Presented by Kia Motors." The series, currently in its second season, is part of a multiyear marketing partnership between Kia Motors America and the NBA, and includes four of the league's most prestigious year-end honors: Most Valuable Player Award, Defensive Player of the Year, Sixth Man Award, and Most Improved Player. For more information on the "The NBA Performance Awards Presented by Kia Motors" visit NBA.com/performanceawards.