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Linsanity is running wild, and the NBA league office has taken notice.
About six games ago, Knicks guard Jeremy Lin was considered a 15th man, and a player on the fringe, having to fight to stick around in the league.
Things change quickly, sometimes.
Lin and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Feb. 6, through Sunday, Feb. 12.
Lin led the Knicks to a 4-0 week, averaging 27.3 points, 8.3 assists and 2.0 steals. His 109 points over his first four career starts are the most by any player since 1976-77, and he became the first player in NBA history to tally at least 20 points and seven assists in each of his first four starts. Lin scored a career-high 38 points on Feb. 10, in a 92-85 win over the Lakers.
Westbrook helped the Thunder to a 3-1 week, averaging 30.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.5 steals. Westbrook scored 28 or more points in all four of Oklahoma City’s games, and posted one double-double (28 points, 11 rebounds) on Feb. 6, in a 111-107 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Westbrook connected on a career-high 15 field goals on Feb. 9, during a 106-101 loss to the Sacramento Kings.
Here is a recap of the week for Lin and Westbrook:
Jeremy Lin, New York Knicks
Feb. 6 vs. Utah: Posted 28 points, eight assists and two steals in a 99-88 win over the Jazz.
Feb. 8 @ Washington: Tallied 23 points, 10 assists and four rebounds in a 107-93 win over the Wizards.
Feb. 10 vs. L.A. Lakers: Scored a career-high 38 points and added seven assists, four rebounds and two steals in a 92-85 win over the Lakers.
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
Feb. 6 @ Portland: Tallied 28 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists during a 111-107 overtime win over the Trail Blazers.
Feb. 7 at Golden State: Posted 31 points and added seven assists and two steals in a 119-116 win over the Warriors.
Feb. 10 at Utah: Collected 28 points and added six rebounds and three assists during a 101-87 win over the Jazz.
Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki, Detroit’s Greg Monroe, Golden State’s Monta Ellis, Miami’s LeBron James and Dwyane Wade and Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant.
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