Artest, Bryant named NBA Players of Week

NEW YORK (Ticker) - After leading their respective teams to undefeated records last week, Ron Artest of the Indiana Pacers and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday earned the NBA Player of the Week awards.

Taking Eastern Conference honors, Artest averaged 22.0 points, 4.5 assists and 4.5 steals as the Pacers went 4-0 last week. The Packers played two of the games without leading scorer Jermaine O'Neal. Artest averaged 27.5 points and tied a team record with eight steals in a 115-91 victory over Dallas on March 26.

Bryant picked up the Western Conference award after guiding the Lakers to a 3-0 week while averaging 35.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists. He had 36 points in 37 minutes in a 115-91 rout of the Sacramento Kings on March 24.

Golden State's Erick Dampier, Houston's Yao Ming, Miami's Lamar Odom and Dwyane Wade, Philadelphia's Kenny Thomas and Portland's Damon Stoudamire also were considered for the awards.

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