NEW YORK — The Miami Heat’s Dion Waiters and the Sacramento Kings’ DeMarcus Cousins today were named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Jan. 23 through Sunday, Jan. 29.
Waiters led the Heat to a 4-0 week as Miami extended its winning streak to seven games. He averaged 23.3 points (tied for eighth in the East), 5.0 assists and 4.5 rebounds. Waiters connected on 12-of-25 (48.0 percent) three-point attempts, including a last-second game-winner to cap a career-high-tying 33-point performance in a 105-102 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Jan. 23. Two days later, Waiters scored a team-high 24 points, including a key three-pointer with 6.8 seconds left, and added eight assists and five rebounds in 109-106 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.
Cousins led the Kings to a 3-1 week, averaging 27.8 points (eighth in the West), 14.5 rebounds (second in the West), 6.0 assists, 1.50 steals and 1.25 blocks. In a 116-112 overtime victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Jan. 25, Cousins finished with 28 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. He closed the week by recording 35 points and 18 rebounds and making the go-ahead basket with 14.3 seconds left as the Kings defeated the Charlotte Hornets 109-106 on Jan. 28.
Here is a recap of the week for Waiters and Cousins:
Dion Waiters, Miami Heat
Jan. 23 vs. Golden State: Tied a career high with 33 points and hit a game-winning three-pointer in a 105-102 win over the Warriors.
Jan. 25 @ Brooklyn: Tallied 24 points, eight assists and five rebounds in a 109-106 victory over the Nets.
Jan. 27 @ Chicago: Recorded 19 points and five rebounds in a 100-88 win against the Bulls.
Jan. 28 vs. Detroit: Registered 17 points, seven assists and three rebounds in a 116-103 victory over the Pistons.
DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings
Jan. 23 @ Detroit: Recorded 22 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and three steals in a 109-104 win over the Pistons.
Jan. 25 @ Cleveland: Notched 28 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists in a 116-112 overtime victory against the Cavaliers.
Jan. 27 @ Indiana: Contributed 26 points, 16 rebounds and five assists in a 115-111 overtime loss to the Pacers.
Jan. 28 @ Charlotte: Posted 35 points and 18 rebounds in a 109-106 win over the Hornets.
Other nominees for the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Boston’s Isaiah Thomas, Golden State’s Stephen Curry, Indiana’s Paul George, Memphis’ Marc Gasol, Miami’s Goran Dragic, Phoenix’s Eric Bledsoe, Portland’s Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, and Washington’s Bradley Beal and John Wall.
