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Players of Month: D.Howard, C.Paul

InsideHoops.com NewsWire: The Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard and the New Orleans’ Hornets Chris Paul today were named Eastern Conference and Western Conference Players of the Month, respectively, for games played Dec. 1 through Dec. 31.

Howard averaged 21.7 points on .598 shooting, a league-high 16.1 rebounds and 2.87 blocks in winning his second consecutive monthly award. Howard recorded 14 double-doubles in December, as the Magic went 8-7. The center had five games of 20-plus rebounds, including a season-high 23 on Dec. 3 at Golden State in a 123-117 overtime win.

Paul averaged 24.5 points, 10.4 assists and a league-high 3.00 steals in guiding the Hornets to a Southwest Division-best 9-5 mark. Paul’s month included two 40-plus-point performances and three games with at least 15 assists. With season averages of 21.5 points, 10.2 assists and 3.00 steals, Paul is attempting to become the first player to average at least 20.0 points, 10.0 assists and 3.0 steals for a season.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month were Atlanta’s Joe Johnson, Boston’s Paul Pierce, Charlotte’s Gerald Wallace, Denver’s Allen Iverson, Detroit’s Richard Hamilton, Houston’s Yao Ming, Philadelphia’s Andre Miller, Portland’s Brandon Roy, and Toronto’s Chris Bosh.

Kenyon Martin suspended 1 game

Denver Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin has been suspended for one game without pay and assessed a Flagrant Foul, Penalty Two for flagrantly fouling Melvin Ely of the New Orleans Hornets by striking him in the head with an elbow, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 9:40 remaining in the second period of Denver’s 105-99 win over the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday, Dec. 12 at the Pepsi Center. Martin will serve the suspension tonight when the Nuggets play the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center.

The following is a statement from Martin: ”I’m disappointed that I won’t be out there with my teammates tonight against the Spurs. What happened with Melvin in Wednesday’s game was inadvertent. I apologized to him on the court and again after the game. He told me he knew it was an accident.”

Ryan Bowen sprains left knee, out 3+ weeks

The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports: “The Hornets announced Monday that forward Ryan Bowen will miss at least three weeks after spraining his left knee in a loss to the Utah Jazz on Friday. Bowen said Monday morning at the team’s shoot-around that the injury occurred while he was going for a loose ball and that an MRI revealed a second-degree MCL sprain with no torn ligaments. “It feels pretty good right now,” Bowen said Monday morning. “It’s loose, it’s wobbly, so I just have to wait for that to tighten up.”