Raptors’ DeMar DeRozan, Jazz’s Gordon Hayward named NBA Players of the Week
NEW YORK – The Toronto Raptors’ DeMar DeRozan and the Utah Jazz’s Gordon Hayward today were named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Jan. 9 through Sunday, Jan. 15.
DeRozan led the Raptors to a 3-0 week, averaging 30.7 points (second in the East) on 51.5 percent shooting to go with 7.3 rebounds. The 27-year-old guard opened the week by posting season highs of 41 points and 13 rebounds in a 114-106 win over the Boston Celtics on Jan. 10. The performance marked the two-time All-Star’s third 40-point game of the season. He closed the week by tallying 23 points, five rebounds and five assists in 28 minutes in a 116-101 win over the New York Knicks on Jan. 15.
Hayward averaged 23.7 points on 73.5 percent shooting (fourth in the West) and added 6.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists as the Jazz won all three of its games. The 26-year-old forward shot 10-for-12 from the field on his way to 28 points in a 100-92 win over the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers on Jan. 10. Hayward tied a season high with four three-pointers against the Cavaliers and shot 60.0 percent (9-for-15) from behind the arc for the week.
Here is a recap of the week for DeRozan and Hayward:
DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors
Jan. 10 vs. Boston: Logged season highs with 41 points and 13 rebounds in a 114-106 win over the Celtics.
Jan. 13 vs. Brooklyn: Scored 28 points and added four rebounds in a 132-113 victory against the Nets.
Jan. 15 vs. New York: Finished with 23 points, five rebounds and five assists in a 116-101 win over the Knicks.
Gordon Hayward, Utah Jazz
Jan. 10 vs. Cleveland: Shot 10-for-12 from the field and scored 28 points to go with nine rebounds in a 100-92 win over the Cavaliers.
Jan. 13 vs. Detroit: Scored 20 points on 8-for-12 shooting and added four rebounds and three assists in a 110-77 victory against the Pistons.
Jan. 14 vs. Orlando: Tallied 23 points, seven assists and five rebounds in a 114-107 win over the Magic.
Other nominees for the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Boston’s Isaiah Thomas, the LA Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan and Chris Paul, Miami’s Hassan Whiteside, Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid, Phoenix’s Devin Booker and Toronto’s Jonas Valanciunas.