NEW YORK — The Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook today were named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Nov. 28 through Sunday, Dec. 4.
Antetokounmpo helped the Bucks to a 3-0 week, averaging 24.3 points (fourth in the East), 10.0 rebounds (tied for fifth in the East), 6.3 assists and a league-leading 3.67 steals. On Nov. 29, he matched his career highs for points (34) and steals (five) to go with 12 rebounds and five assists in a 118-101 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. He capped his week by posting 16 points, 10 rebounds and career-high-tying five blocks in a 112-103 victory against the Brooklyn Nets on Dec. 3.
Westbrook led the Thunder to a 3-0 week behind averages of 30.0 points (third in NBA), 16.0 rebounds (second in NBA) and a West-leading 12.3 assists. He recorded a triple-double in all three games to become the first player with five consecutive triple-doubles since Michael Jordan had seven in a row in 1989. Westbrook’s fifth straight triple-double came on Dec. 4, when he finished with 28 points, 17 rebounds and 12 assists as Oklahoma City extended its winning streak to five games with a 101-92 victory against the New Orleans Pelicans. For the season, Westbrook is averaging a triple-double of 31.0 points, 11.3 assists and 10.8 rebounds.
Here is a recap of the week for Antetokounmpo and Westbrook:
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Nov. 29 vs. Cleveland: Registered 34 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and five steals in a 118-101 win over the Cavaliers.
Dec. 1 @ Brooklyn: Finished with 23 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and four steals in a 111-93 victory over the Nets.
Dec. 3 vs. Brooklyn: Tallied 16 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and five blocks in a 112-103 victory over the Nets.
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
Nov. 28 @ New York: Recorded 27 points, 17 rebounds and 14 assists in a 112-103 win over the Knicks.
Nov. 30 vs. Washington: Notched 35 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists in a 126-115 overtime victory against the Wizards.
Dec. 4 vs. New Orleans: Posted 28 points, 17 rebounds and 12 assists in a 101-92 win over the Pelicans.
Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Boston’s Isaiah Thomas, Brooklyn’s Sean Kilpatrick, Detroit’s Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Tobias Harris, Golden State’s Kevin Durant, Memphis’ Troy Daniels and Marc Gasol, Miami’s Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside, New Orleans’ Anthony Davis, New York’s Derrick Rose, Orlando’s Serge Ibaka, Portland’s Damian Lillard, Toronto’s Kyle Lowry and Utah’s Gordon Hayward.