Luka Doncic and Spencer Dinwiddie won Player of the Week awards after posting excellent performances for their respective teams over the past 7 days.
Superb Doncic Amazes Everyone
Luka Doncic, the reigning Rookie of the Year award, established himself as one of the earliest MVP candidates. Throughout the last week, he was averaging 37 points per game, 8.5 rebounds, and 11.8 assists, with excellent shooting percentages, 55.4% from the field, and 44.4% from downtown.
This is his first award, and the youngster from Slovenia fully deserved it. His Mavericks have won all four games played and among them the latest one versus the Houston Rockets. That triumph placed them on the top of the Southwest division, although Mavs had a mild start of the season. Prior to that event, Dallas defeated the San Antoni Spurs, the Golden State Warriors, and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Doncic recorded triple-doubles against the Spurs (42 pts, 12 ass, 11 rebs) and the Warriors (35 pts, 11 ass, 10 rebs). The latter one was the fastest-ever with 35 or more points. Right now, the 20-year old leads the NBA with 7 triple-doubles in 16 matches.
The above-mentioned game against the Houston Rockets was one of the best he had this season. Luka single-handedly destroyed one of the biggest title contenders, who by the way, happen to have two MVP’s in the starting lineup. Doncic had 41 points, 10 dimes, and 6 rebounds at Houston’s court.
It is also the first time since 2016 that the Mavs recorded five wins in a row.
Dinwiddie Replaces Injured Kyrie
Spencer Dinwiddie is a bit surprising name to see in this news. But when we say that the Nets’ guard had one of the toughest possible tasks to perform, and he did it more than well, it has sense. Kyrie Irving picked up an injury, and Dinwiddie filled his role. Over the past five weeks, he was posting 25.3 points, 3.5 boards, 6.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per night, in 33.3 minutes.
During that time, the Nets won three and lost one game, when the 6’6″ guy just starting to adjust to the new circumstances. That was the contest against the Pacers, and after that came three victories in a row, vs Hornets, Kings and the Knicks.
In the last one, Dinwiddie had 30 points in 35 minutes on the floor. It also happened to be the first time this season that the guys from Brooklyn posted three triumphs in a row.
Likeways Doncic, this is also the first POW award for the Nets’ player. Though, he needed four more years to earn it. Dinwiddie is the first Nets this season, to clinch this honor and the 35th in their history. The most recent before him was D’Angelo Russell, who did that last January.
His Nets have spectacular back-to-back nights coming up this week. They host the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, and in less than 24 hours later, meet with them at TD Garden.
Doncic and the Mavs have two road games next. The first one is against the Suns in Phoenix, and the second versus LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, at the Staples Center.
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