Granger and McGrady Named NBA Players of the Week

NEW YORK, Nov. 5 – The Indiana Pacers’ Danny Granger and the Houston Rockets’ Tracy McGrady today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Tuesday, Oct. 30 through Sunday, Nov. 4.

Granger, in winning his first NBA Player of the Week honor, helped the Pacers open the season 3-0 for only the second time in the last 12 seasons by averaging 22.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals. The third-year forward converted half his field goal attempts, including a league-high 10 three-pointers. Granger scored at least 20 points in three consecutive games for the first time in his career.

McGrady led the Rockets to a 3-0 record, averaging a league-high 32.3 points on .500 shooting. McGrady also dished out 4.7 assists and pulled down 4.3 rebounds. In scoring 47 points at Utah Nov. 1, McGrady broke his own mark for most points by a Houston player against Utah. The Rockets opened the season 3-0 for the first time since 1996 and only the seventh time in team history.

Here is a closer look at the week for Granger and McGrady:

Danny Granger, Indiana Pacers
# Oct. 31 vs. Washington: Recorded a 20-point, 13-rebound double-double in Indiana’s 119-110 overtime win. He scored seven of his points in OT.
# Nov. 2 vs. Miami: Tallied 25 points and nine boards in Indiana’s 87-85 victory.
# Nov. 3 @ Memphis: Scored 23 points in the Pacers’ 121-111 win.

Tracy McGrady, Houston Rockets
# Oct. 30. @ L.A. Lakers: Tallied 30 points, six rebounds and four assists in Houston’s 95-93 win.
# Nov. 1 @ Utah: Poured in 47 points to go with four rebounds and four assists in the Rockets’ 106-95 road victory.
# Nov. 3 vs. Portland: Scored 20 points and dished six assists in an 89-80 win.

Other nominees for Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Boston’s Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce; Detroit’s Chauncey Billups; New Jersey’s Richard Jefferson; New Orleans’ Chris Paul; Orlando’s Hedo Turkoglu; Phoenix’s Shawn Marion and Steve Nash; and San Antonio’s Manu Ginobili.

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