NEW YORK – The Cavaliers’ Kyrie Irving and the Timberwolves’ Ricky Rubio today were named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month, respectively, for games played from the start of the season (Dec. 25) through January.

Irving leads all rookies in scoring (18.1 ppg), ranks second in assists (4.9 apg) and field goal percentage (.511), and is third in three-point field goal percentage (.411).  On Jan. 27 against the New Jersey Nets, he scored 21 of his season-high 32 points in the fourth quarter, including 17 in the last 2:58, becoming the first rookie to score at least 21 points in the fourth quarter of a game since Marcus Williams of the Nets did it on Nov. 24, 2006.

Rubio ranks fifth among rookies in scoring (11.4 ppg) and first in assists (8.9 apg) and steals (2.24 spg). His six steals on Jan. 18 vs. Detroit are the most by a Wolves player since Kevin Garnett had seven vs. the L.A. Clippers on Jan. 27, 2007.

Here is a recap of the month for both Irving and Rubio:

Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers

Jan. 12 @ Phoenix: Registered 26 points, three rebounds, six assists and two steals in a 101-90 win over the Suns.

Jan. 16 @ Charlotte: Tallied 25 points, four rebounds and a season-high seven assists in a 102-94 victory over the Bobcats.

Jan.  27 vs. New Jersey: Scored a season-high 32 points, in addition to six rebounds, two assists and two steals in a 99-96 loss to the Nets.

Jan. 29 @ Boston: Posted 23 points, four rebounds and six assists in an 88-87 victory over the Celtics.

Ricky Rubio, Minnesota Timberwolves

Jan. 8 @ Washington: Scored 13 points, and added six rebounds and 14 assists in a 93-72 win over the Wizards.

Jan. 14 @ Atlanta: Recorded 18 points, 12 assists and five steals in a 93-91 loss to the Hawks.

Jan. 25 @ Dallas: Posted 17 points, 12 assists, seven rebounds and four steals in a 105-90 victory over the Mavericks.

Jan. 27 vs. San Antonio: Tallied 18 points, 10 assists and four rebounds in an 87-79 win against the Spurs.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month were Detroit’s Brandon Knight, Houston’s Chandler Parsons, Miami’s Norris Cole, New Jersey’s MarShon Brooks and Phoenix’s Markieff Morris.