Magic's Howard, Mavericks' Kidd named Players of the Week

NEW YORK -- The Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard and the Dallas Mavericks' Jason Kidd today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, March 30, through Sunday, April 5.

Howard led Orlando to a 3-1 record, averaging a league-best 15.3 rebounds to go along with 23.7 points on .615 shooting from the field, and 2.3 blocks. In Orlando's 88-82 win over Atlanta on April 4, Howard recorded his ninth 20-point, 20-rebound game of the season, when he scored 21 points and added a season-high-tying 23 rebounds. With two road victories, the Magic improved to an Eastern Conference-best 27-11 on the road. This is Howard's second consecutive Player of the Week award and third for the season.

Kidd averaged an NBA-best 13.5 assists and to go along with 9.8 points as the Mavericks went 3-1. With his 14th assist in Dallas' 140-116 win over Phoenix on April 5, Kidd passed Magic Johnson for third on the NBA's career assist list. Kidd finished the game with a season-high 20 assists and now stands at 10,148 career assists, trailing only John Stockton (15,806) and Mark Jackson (10,334).

Here is a recap of the week for Howard and Kidd:

Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

March 30 @ Miami: Posted 22 points and 18 rebounds in a 101-95 win over the Heat.

April 1 vs. Toronto: Recorded 30 points, nine rebounds and three steals in a 99-95 loss to the Raptors.

April 3 vs. Cleveland: Tallied 20 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks in a 116-87 win over the Cavaliers.

April 4 @ Atlanta: Scored 21 points, and added a season-high-tying 23 rebounds to go along with five assists, four blocks and three steals in an 88-82 win over the Hawks.

Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks

March 31 @ Minnesota: Collected eight points and 13 assists in a 108-88 win over the Timberwolves.

April 1 vs. Miami: Tallied 11 assists, three points and four rebounds in a 98-96 win over the Heat.

April 3 @ Memphis: Scored nine points and added 10 assists and five rebounds in a 107-102 loss to the Grizzlies.

April 5 vs. Phoenix: Netted 19 points to go along with a season-high 20 assists, and added four rebounds in a 140-116 win over the Suns.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Cleveland's LeBron James, Denver's J.R. Smith, Indiana's Danny Granger, Memphis' Mike Conley and Rudy Gay, Miami's Dwyane Wade, Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge and Toronto's Chris Bosh.