NEW YORK – The Chicago Bulls’ Jimmy Butler and the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry today were named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, March 27 through Sunday, April 2.
Butler helped the Bulls to a 3-0 week behind averages of 32.5 points (second in the East) and 6.0 assists, propelling Chicago to seventh place in the Eastern Conference. On April 1, he hit two free throws with 2.1 seconds left, finishing with 33 points, to lead the Bulls to a 106-104 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. On April 2, he scored 39 points on 14-of-26 shooting to go with six rebounds and five assists in a 117-110 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Curry led the Warriors to a 4-0 week, extending their winning streak to 11 games behind averages of 31.8 points (second in the West) 7.8 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals. He shot 52.4 percent and connected on 20-of-42 three-point attempts. On April 2, he scored 42 points on 15-of-22 shooting and made 9-of-14 attempts from behind the arc in a 139-115 victory over the Washington Wizards. It’s the second consecutive season he’s recorded 300 three-pointers, and he remains the only player in league history to make 300 three-pointers in a season.
Here is a recap of the week for Butler and Curry:
Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls
March 30 vs. Cleveland: Recorded 25 points, six rebounds and five assists in a 99-93 victory over the Cavaliers.
April 1 vs Atlanta: Scored 33 points to go with eight assists and five rebounds in a 106-104 victory over the Hawks.
April 2 @ New Orleans: Registered 39 points, six rebounds, five assists in a 117-110 victory over the Pelicans.
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
March 26 @ Houston: Scored 32 to points to go with 10 rebounds and seven assists in a 113-106 win over the Rockets.
March 29 @ San Antonio: Recorded 29 points and 11 assists in a 110-98 win over the Spurs.
March 31 vs. Houston: Tallied 24 points, seven rebounds and five assists in a 107-98 victory over the Rockets.
April 2 vs. Washington: Posted 42 points and eight assists in a 139-115 win over the Wizards.
Other nominees for the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Charlotte’s Kemba Walker, L.A. Clippers’ Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, New Orleans’ Anthony Davis, Portland’s CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard, San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard and Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan and Jonas Valanciunas.
