NEW YORK — The Washington Wizards’ John Wall and the Houston Rockets’ James Harden today were named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Dec. 26 through Sunday, Jan. 1.
Wall led the Wizards to a 3-0 week, with all three victories coming at home, where Washington has won eight consecutive games. He averaged 24.3 points (eighth in the East), an NBA-leading 13.0 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 2.67 steals (second in the East) for the week. After opening the week with 18 points and a season-high 16 assists in a 107-102 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Dec. 26, Wall recorded 36 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists in a 111-105 victory against the Indiana Pacers on Dec. 28.
Harden lifted the Rockets to a 4-0 week by leading the NBA in scoring (37.3 ppg), ranking second in the league in assists (12.5 apg) and finishing tied for eighth in the West in rebounding (9.8 rpg). In addition to shooting 56.0 percent from the field, 45.9 percent from three-point range and 88.9 percent from the free throw line, Harden scored 30 or more points and handed out at least 10 assists in all four games.
The 27-year-old Houston guard closed the week with back-to-back triple-doubles, including a historic performance in a 129-122 victory against the New York Knicks on Dec. 31, when Harden scored a career-high 53 points, equaled a career best with 17 assists and grabbed a Rockets-season-high 16 rebounds. Harden became the first player in NBA history to have at least 50 points, 15 assists and 15 rebounds in a game, and he tied Wilt Chamberlain (1968) for the most points in a triple-double.
Here is a recap of the week for Wall and Harden:
John Wall, Washington Wizards
Dec. 26 vs. Milwaukee: Notched 18 points, 16 assists, two steals and two blocked shots in a 107-102 win over the Bucks.
Dec. 28 vs. Indiana: Tallied 36 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists in a 111-105 victory against the Pacers.
Dec. 30 vs. Brooklyn: Finished with 19 points, 14 assists and four steals in a 118-95 win over the Nets as the Wizards improved to 16-16 for the season.
James Harden, Houston Rockets
Dec. 26 vs. Phoenix: Registered 32 points and 12 assists in a 131-115 victory against the Suns.
Dec. 27 @ Dallas: Recorded 34 points and 11 assists in a 123-107 win over the Mavericks.
Dec. 30 vs. LA Clippers: Posted a triple-double of 30 points, 13 boards and 10 assists and added five steals in a 140-116 victory over the Clippers.
Dec. 31 vs. New York: Scored 53 points (nine threes made), dished out 17 assists and grabbed 16 rebounds in a 129-122 win over the Knicks.
Other nominees for the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Boston’s Isaiah Thomas, Denver’s Nikola Jokic, LA Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, New Orleans’ Anthony Davis, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid, Portland’s C.J. McCollum and Sacramento’s DeMarcus Cousins.
