#ClutchNBA: LeBron James (East) y Russell Westbrook (West) los Jugadores del Mes (Febrero) en la NBA

CLEVELAND’S JAMES AND OKLAHOMA CITY’S WESTBROOK
NAMED KIA NBA PLAYERS OF THE MONTH

NEW YORK, March 2, 2017 – The Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook today were named the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month, respectively, for games played in February. 

The Cavaliers were 9-1 with James in the lineup in February (9-2 overall) as the 32-year-old forward averaged 25.9 points (third in the East), 10.6 assists (second in the East) and 7.2 rebounds.  He shot 63.7 percent from the field (second in the conference) and 56.8 percent from three-point range (fourth in the conference), his highest percentages for any month this season.  James scored at least 20 points in eight of his 10 games and dished out 10 or more assists six times on his way to averaging the most assists for any month in his 14-year career.  During a 111-104 victory against the New York Knicks on Feb. 4, James became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 28,000 points. 

Westbrook averaged a triple-double of 33.4 points (first in the NBA), 11.0 rebounds (tied for fifth in the West) and 10.0 assists (fifth in the NBA) as the Thunder went 7-4 for the month, including wins over the Cavaliers, Memphis Grizzlies and Utah Jazz.  The 28-year-old guard posted six triple-doubles to improve his league-leading total to 30.  Oscar Robertson (41 in 1961-62) and Wilt Chamberlain (31 in 1967-68) are the only players to record more triple-doubles in a season than Westbrook, who leads all active players with 67 for his career.  In a 110-93 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 24, Westbrook became the third player in the last 40 years to tally at least 17 points, 17 rebounds and 17 assists in a game, joining Magic Johnson (1989) and Rajon Rondo (2012).

Here is a closer look at February for James and Westbrook:  

LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

Feb. 6 @ Washington: Dished out a career-high 17 assists and scored 32 points in a 140-135 overtime victory against the Wizards.

Feb. 11 vs. Denver: Tallied 27 points, 12 assists and five rebounds in a 125-109 win over the Nuggets.

Feb. 23 vs. New York: Recorded a triple-double with 18 points, 15 assists and 13 rebounds in a 119-104 win over the Knicks.  

Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

Feb. 3 vs. Memphis: Finished with 38 points (17-of-17 free throws), 13 rebounds and 12 assists in a 114-102 win over the Grizzlies.

Feb. 9 vs. Cleveland: Posted 29 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists and four steals in a 118-109 victory against the Cavaliers.   

Feb. 28 vs. Utah: Made six three-pointers and finished with 43 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in a 109-106 win over the Jazz.  

Other nominees for the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month were Boston’s Isaiah Thomas, Golden State’s Klay Thompson, Houston’s James Harden, the LA Clippers’ Blake Griffin, Miami’s Goran Dragic, Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns, Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan, Utah’s Gordon Hayward and Washington’s John Wall.  

PHILADELPHIA’S SARIC AND DALLAS’ FERRELL
NAMED KIA NBA ROOKIES OF THE MONTH

NEW YORK, March 2, 2017 – The Philadelphia 76ers’ Dario Saric and the Dallas Mavericks’ Yogi Ferrell today were named the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month, respectively, for games played in February.

Saric, the 12^th pick in NBA Draft 2014 presented by State Farm, led all rookies in scoring (17.0 ppg) and ranked second in rebounding (7.9 rpg) for the month.  Among Eastern Conference rookies, he was first in minutes (30.1 mpg), tied for second in steals (1.0 spg) and third in assists (2.8 apg).  The 22-year-old forward from Croatia scored in double figures in 11 of 12 games during February, including five appearances with at least 20 points.  Saric recorded four straight point-rebound double-doubles from Feb. 13-25, capped by a 19-point, 15-rebound, five-assist performance in a 110-109 loss to the New York Knicks on Feb. 25.           

Ferrell, who was not selected in NBA Draft 2016 presented by State Farm, paced all Western Conference rookies in scoring (12.0 ppg), assists (4.7 apg) and minutes (31.5 mpg) in February.  He led all rookies in three-pointers made (21).  The 23-year-old guard was playing on a 10-day contract when he equaled an NBA rookie record with nine three-pointers on his way to scoring 32 points in Dallas’ 108-104 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Feb. 3.  Four days later, the Mavericks signed him to a multiyear contract.  Before joining Dallas, Ferrell played 10 games with the Brooklyn Nets and 18 games with the NBA Development League’s Long Island Nets.      

Here is a recap of February for Saric and Ferrell:

Dario Saric, Philadelphia 76ers

Feb. 9 @ Orlando: Scored a career-high 26 points and added eight rebounds and three steals in a 112-111 win over the Magic.

Feb. 13 @ Charlotte: Posted 18 points, 11 rebounds and three assists in a 105-99 win over the Hornets.
Feb. 24 vs. Washington: Registered 20 points, 11 rebounds and four assists in a 120-112 victory against the Wizards.

Yogi Ferrell, Dallas Mavericks

Feb. 3 @ Portland: Made 9-of-11 three-point attempts en route to 32 points and added five assists in a 108-104 victory against the Trail Blazers.

Feb. 9 vs. Utah: Contributed nine points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals in a 112-105 overtime win over the Jazz. 

Feb. 13 vs. Boston: Scored 20 points and handed out five assists in a 111-98 loss to the Celtics. 

Other nominees for the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month were Boston’s Jaylen Brown, Denver’s Jamal Murray, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Brandon Ingram, Miami’s Rodney McGruder, Milwaukee’s Malcolm Brogdon, New York’s Willy Hernangomez and Phoenix’s Marquese Chriss.

MIAMI’S SPOELSTRA AND SAN ANTONIO’S POPOVICH
NAMED NBA COACHES OF THE MONTH

NEW YORK, March 1, 2017 – The Miami Heat’s Erik Spoelstra and the San Antonio Spurs’ Gregg Popovich today were named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month, respectively, for games played in February.  

Spoelstra led the Heat to an 8-3 record, the second-best mark in the Eastern Conference, as Miami played only four games at home (3-1) and seven on the road (5-2).  Miami won its first five games in February to extend its winning streak to 13, the longest in the NBA this season and the third-longest in franchise history.  The Heat also won three of its final four games of the month, with each victory coming against a team currently in position to make the playoffs (Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks and Indiana Pacers).  For the month, Miami ranked third in the East in scoring (110.3 ppg) and second in points allowed (101.6 ppg). 

Popovich guided the Spurs to a Western Conference-best 8-2 record in February, going 6-2 on the road and 2-0 at home.  San Antonio closed the month with four consecutive victories, all on the road.  When the Spurs defeated the Denver Nuggets 121-97 on Feb. 4, Popovich recorded his 1,128^th victory as San Antonio head coach and passed former Utah Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan for the most wins with one franchise in NBA history.  With a 110-106 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Feb. 13, the Spurs set an NBA record by clinching their 20^th straight winning season.

Other nominees for the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month were Boston’s Brad Stevens, Cleveland’s Tyronn Lue, Detroit’s Stan Van Gundy, Golden State’s Steve Kerr, Houston’s Mike D’Antoni, Memphis’ David Fizdale, Oklahoma City’s Billy Donovan, Utah’s Quin Snyder and Washington’s Scott Brooks.