NEW YORK — The Chicago Bulls’ Jimmy Butler and the New Orleans Pelicans’ Anthony Davis today were named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Nov. 14 through Sunday, Nov. 20.
Butler helped the Bulls to a 3-1 week, with all victories coming on the road, by averaging 27.3 points (second in the East), 9.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists. He began the week with back-to-back double-doubles, finishing with 27 points and 12 rebounds in a 113-88 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Nov. 15 and recording 20 points and 12 rebounds in an 85-77 victory over the Utah Jazz on Nov. 17. In his final game of the week, Butler scored a season-high 40 points and added seven rebounds and six assists in a 118-110 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 20.
The Pelicans went 3-0 last week in games Davis played (3-1 overall) as he averaged a league-high 33.7 points, led the West with 13.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocks, and added 2.0 steals. He scored 38 points in each of his last two games of the week — victories over the Trail Blazers and Charlotte Hornets — to raise his season average to an NBA-high 31.7 points. He also set a season high with six assists in the win over Portland on Nov. 18 and grabbed 16 rebounds in the overtime victory against Charlotte on Nov. 19.
Here is a recap of the week for Butler and Davis:
Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls
Nov. 15 @ Portland: Recorded 27 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in a 113-88 win over the Trail Blazers.
Nov. 17 @ Utah: Posted 20 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and two steals in an 85-77 victory over the Jazz.
Nov. 20 @ L.A. Lakers: Scored a season-high 40 points to go with seven rebounds and six assists in a 118-110 win over the Lakers.
Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans
Nov. 14 vs. Boston: Finished with 25 points, 16 rebounds, four steals and two blocks in a 106-105 overtime win over the Celtics.
Nov. 18 vs. Portland: Recorded 38 points, nine rebounds, six assists, four blocks and two steals in a 113-101 win over the Trail Blazers.
Nov. 19 vs. Charlotte: Tallied 38 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks in a 121-116 overtime win over the Hornets.
Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Charlotte’s Kemba Walker, Denver’s Wilson Chandler, Golden State’s Kevin Durant, Houston’s James Harden, the LA Clippers’ Blake Griffin, Memphis’ Mike Conley and Marc Gasol, Miami’s Hassan Whiteside, New York’s Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis, Portland’s CJ McCollum and San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard.
