Dwight Howard named NBA Player of the Week (2/23/09)

NEW YORK, Feb. 23, 2009 – The Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Pau Gasol today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Tuesday, Feb. 17, through Sunday, Feb. 22.

Howard averaged 25.5 points, a league-best 15.0 rebounds and 4.3 blocks in leading the Magic to a 3-1 week. Howard led Orlando in scoring twice and in rebounding in all four games. His 45-point, 19-rebound, eight-block effort in a 107-102 win over Charlotte on Feb. 17 marked the first time a player tallied 40-plus points, 15-plus rebounds and five-plus blocks in a game since Shaquille O’Neal on March 23, 2001 as a member of the Lakers. The 45 points also marked a career high for Howard.

Gasol won his second straight Player of the Week Award after guiding the Lakers to a perfect 4-0 mark. Gasol averaged 20.3 points on .635 shooting from the field, 10.8 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.0 blocks. In a 96-83 win over Atlanta on Feb. 17, Gasol recorded his third career triple-double with 12 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. The next night, Gasol tallied 24 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in the Lakers’ 129-121 win at Golden State.

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

Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

Feb. 17 vs. Charlotte: Tallied 45 points, 19 rebounds and eight blocks in a 107-102 win over the Bobcats.
Feb. 18 @ New Orleans: Collected 12 points and eight rebounds in a 117-85 loss to the Hornets.
Feb. 20 @ Charlotte: Posted 13 points, 16 rebounds and six blocks as Orlando won at Charlotte 92-80.
Feb. 22 vs. Miami: Scored 32 points and added 17 rebounds in a 122-99 win over the Heat.

Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers

Feb. 17 vs. Atlanta: Recorded his third career triple-double with 12 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in a 96-83 win over the Hawks.
Feb. 18 @ Golden State: Tallied 24 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in a 129-121 win over the Warriors.
Feb. 20 vs. New Orleans: Collected 20 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in a 115-111 overtime win against the Hornets.
Feb. 22 @ Minnesota: Notched 25 points, five rebounds, five assists and two blocks as the Lakers defeated the Timberwolves 111-108.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Cleveland’s LeBron James, Houston’s Yao Ming, Indiana’s Troy Murphy, Los Angeles Lakers’ Lamar Odom, Miami’s Dwyane Wade, Milwaukee’s Richard Jefferson and Charlie Villanueva, New York’s Nate Robinson, Portland’s Brandon Roy and Utah’s Deron Williams.