Bucks’ Monta Ellis, Nuggets’ Ty Lawson named NBA Players of the Week

NEW YORK – The Milwaukee Bucks’ Monta Ellis and the Denver Nuggets’ Ty Lawson today were named Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Feb. 25 through Sunday, March 3.

 Ellis led the Bucks to a 3-0 week with averages of 24.0 points (sixth in the conference), 9.0 assists (fourth in the conference) and a league-leading 5.0 steals. Ellis collected back-to-back six-steal games in road victories over the Dallas Mavericks on Feb. 26, and the Houston Rockets on Feb. 27. In the win over the Rockets, Ellis, who led all scorers with 27 points, hit an off-balance three-pointer just before the final buzzer to secure the win.

Lawson led the Nuggets to a 3-0 week behind averages of 21.0 points, 7.0 assists and 1.7 steals. Lawson hit a game winner of his own on March 1 with 0.2 seconds remaining to give the Nuggets a 105-103 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. He also tallied a 30-point effort on Feb. 27, during a win against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Here is a recap of the week for Ellis and Lawson:

Monta Ellis, Milwaukee Bucks

Feb. 26 @ Dallas: Scored 22 points and added nine assists and six steals during a 95-90 win over the Mavericks.

Feb. 27 @ Houston: Tallied 27 points, 13 assists, six rebounds and six steals in a 110-107 win over the Rockets.

March 2 vs. Toronto: Posted 23 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals during a 122-114 win over the Raptors.

Ty Lawson, Denver Nuggets  

Feb. 25 vs. L.A. Lakers: Posted 22 points, eight assists and four rebounds in a 119-108 win over the Lakers.

Feb. 27 @ Portland: Tallied 30 points, six assists and two steals in a 111-109 win over the Trail Blazers.

March 1 vs. Oklahoma City: Collected 11 points, seven assists, three rebounds and two steals in a 105-103 win over the Thunder.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Atlanta’s Al Horford, Chicago’s Joakim Noah, Golden State’s Stephen Curry, Houston’s Chandler Parsons, Indiana’s David West, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, Memphis’ Marc Gasol, Miami’s LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, New York’s Carmelo Anthony, Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, and Portland’s Damian Lillard.