From the NBA:
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.
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.
A few highlights:
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.
