NBA NEWS - ATLANTA HAWKS’ JOHNSON AND LOS ANGELES LAKERS’ BRYANT NAMED - April 2008

Kobe Bryant NBA Western Player of the Week - NBA photo

Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, March 31, through Sunday, April 6.

NEW YORK,, NY USA - Thursday April 10, 2008

FOR THE RECORD

The Atlanta Hawks’ Joe Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, March 31, through Sunday, April 6.

Johnson led the Hawks to a 3-1 week, which included wins over two playoff-bound Eastern Conference foes, Philadelphia and Toronto. Johnson averaged 25.3 points on .556 shooting from the field, 8.3 assists and 5.5 rebounds. Johnson also shot .455 from distance. For the season, Johnson is Atlanta’s leader in scoring, assists, free-throw percentage, three-point percentage and three-point field goals made.

Bryant helped the Lakers to a 3-0 week, which included wins over the Trail Blazers, Mavericks and Kings. For the week, Bryant averaged 30.0 points, 9.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists while shooting a scorching .688 from three-point range (11-of-17). The Lakers are tied with San Antonio for the second best record in the Western Conference (53-24).

Here is a recap of the week for Johnson and Bryant:

Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks

March 31 @ Memphis: Recorded 19 points and eight assists in a 116-99 win over the Grizzlies.

April 2 vs. Toronto: Tallied 28 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds in a 127-120 win over the Raptors.

April 4 vs. Philadelphia: Posted 32 points, eight assists and six rebounds in a 109-104 loss to the 76ers.

April 5 @ Philadelphia: Scored 22 points and added eight rebounds and six assists in a 92-85 win over the 76ers.

Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

April 2 vs. Portland: Poured in 36 points and added 13 rebounds, seven assists and three steals in a 104-91 win over the Trail Blazers.

April 4 vs. Dallas: Tallied 25 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in a 112-108 win over the Mavericks.

April 6 @ Sacramento: Posted 29 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals in a 114-92 win over the Kings.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki, Detroit’s Rodney Stuckey, New Orleans’ Chris Paul, Philadelphia’s Andre Iguodala, Sacramento’s Kevin Martin, Toronto’s Rasho Nesterovic and Utah’s Deron Williams.

(NBA)