NEW YORK – The Miami Heat’s LeBron James and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant today were named the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month, respectively, for games played in February.

James captured his second consecutive Player of the Month award, leading Miami to an 11-2 record in February. James led the conference in scoring (24.6 ppg) and posted double-figure point totals in all 13 of Miami’s games. He finished in the top 10 in the East in assists (6.5 apg), field goal percentage (.540) and steals (1.69 spg). James posted four double-doubles during a month in which he played 35.8 mpg. He scored his 18,000^th career point in a win over Philadelphia on Feb. 3.

Durant helped the Thunder to a 12-3 month with the help of seven 30-plus-point scoring efforts. He paced the league, averaging 29.1 points. Against Denver on Feb. 19, Durant scored a career-high 51 points to go along with eight rebounds during a 124-118 win. Oklahoma City’s 12 wins for the month was tops in the league, and the 12-3 record equaled the franchise’s best February in history (12-3, 1972). Durant was named MVP of the 2012 NBA All-Star Game in Orlando, thanks to his 36-point performance on Feb. 26, during the West’s 152-149 victory over the East.

Here is a closer look at the month for James and Durant:

LeBron James, Miami Heat

Feb. 1 @ Milwaukee: Scored a season-high 40 points to go along with eight rebounds and five assists in 105-97 loss to the Bucks

Feb. 12 @ Atlanta: Registered 23 points and tied a season-high with 13 rebounds in a 107-87 win over the Hawks.

Feb. 23 vs. New York: Collected 20 points and added nine rebounds, eight assists and tied a season-high with five steals in a 102-88 win over the Knicks.

Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

Feb. 3 vs. Memphis: Posted 36 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three blocks in a 101-94 win over the Grizzlies.

Feb. 7 @ Golden State: Recorded a double-double with 33 points, 10 rebounds and tied a season-high with seven assists in a 119-116 win over the Warriors.

Feb. 19 vs. Denver: Tallied a career-high 51 points and added eight rebounds in a 124-118 victory over the Nuggets.

Other nominees for Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month were Detroit’s Greg Monroe, Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, Miami’s Dwyane Wade, New Jersey’s Deron Williams, New York’s Jeremy Lin, Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbook, Orlando’s Dwight Howard and San Antonio’s Tony Parker.

The Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month are part of a series of on-court performance awards called “The Kia NBA Performance Awards.” The series, currently in its fifth season, is part of a multiyear marketing partnership between Kia Motors America and the NBA, and includes four of the league’s most prestigious year-end honors: Most Valuable Player Award, Defensive Player of the Year, Sixth Man Award, and Most Improved Player.  Kia Motors is the Official Automotive Partner of the NBA and the Kia Optima is the league’s Official Vehicle.  For more information on the “The Kia NBA Performance Awards” visit www.NBA.com/awards.