NEW YORK – The Washington Wizards’ John Wall and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook today were named the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month, respectively, for games played in December.

Wall averaged 22.6 points, 11.7 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 2.3 steals to lead the Wizards to an 8-8 record, despite the absence of several key players to injury.  He is the first player to average at least 22.0 points, 11.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals in a month since Chris Paul in April 2009.  Wall scored 20 or more points 11 times, his career high for a month, and recorded 10 games with at least 20 points and 10 assists, the most in team history for a month.  The guard also became the first player to post three straight games with at least 26 points, 12 assists and five rebounds since Dwyane Wade in November 2006.  Wall shot 46.0 percent from the field and 83.6 percent from the free throw line.

Durant (24.9 ppg) and Westbrook (23.8 ppg), co-winners in the West, ranked sixth and seventh in the NBA in scoring, respectively, as the Thunder went 12-3 in December.  Durant added 7.2 rebounds and 5.7 assists while shooting 50.8 percent from the field.  He reached the 20-point mark in all 15 games and shot 87.3 percent from the free throw line.  Westbrook led the league in steals (2.73 ppg) and contributed 8.9 assists (fourth in the West) and 5.9 rebounds.  He had three 30-point games, handed out at least 10 assists seven times and posted his third triple-double of the season.

Here is a closer look at December for Wall and Durant/Westbrook:

John Wall, Washington Wizards

Dec. 1 @ Cleveland: Finished with 35 points, 10 assists, five steals and four rebounds in a 97-85 win over the Cavaliers.

Dec. 12 @ Dallas: Scored 26 points and added 16 assists and five rebounds in a 114-111 win over the Mavericks.

Dec. 19 vs. Charlotte: Recorded 27 points, 12 assists, four rebounds and three steals in a 109-101 win over the Hornets.

Kevin Durant/Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

Dec. 8 @ Memphis: Durant scored 32 points and Westbrook dished out 16 assists in a 125-88 win over the Grizzlies.

Dec. 13 vs. Utah: Durant scored 31 points and Wetsbrook added 25 points and 11 rebounds in a 104-98 win over the Jazz.

Dec. 27 vs. Denver: Durant tallied 26 points and 10 rebounds, while Westbrook finished with 30 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds in a 122-112 win over the Nuggets.

Other nominees for Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month were Atlanta’s Paul Millsap, Detroit’s Reggie Jackson, Golden State’s Stephen Curry, the Los Angeles Clippers’ J.J. Redick, Orlando’s Nikola Vucevic, Portland’s CJ McCollum, Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan and San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard.

Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month
The Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month are part of a series of oncourt performance awards called “The Kia NBA Performance Awards.” The series, currently in its ninth season, is part of a multiyear marketing partnership between Kia Motors America and the NBA, and includes five of the league’s most prestigious year-end honors: Kia Most Valuable Player Award, Kia Defensive Player of the Year, Kia Sixth Man Award, Kia Most Improved Player Award and Kia Rookie of the Year.  It also includes the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month during the regular season.  Kia serves as the Official Automotive Partner and Official Luxury Vehicle of the NBA.  For more information on the “The Kia NBA Performance Awards,” visit NBA.com/awards.