New York, NY (Sports Network) - Miami Heatguard Dwyane Wade and Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant were named Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month, respectively, for the games played in December.
Wade led the NBA in scoring for the second consecutive month, averaging 29.2 points per game in helping the Heat to a 9-4 record, including victories over the Lakers and the Cavaliers -- who have a combined 51-10 record coming into Friday's games.
Additionally, Wade posted averages of 6.3 assists, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.85 steals, while shooting 46.2 percent from the floor.
Bryant's 28.2 ppg was second in the league to Wade as the Lakers posted a perfect 7-0 mark at Staples Center and an 11-4 record overall in December. Dallas and San Antonio equaled the Lakers' December record as best in the Western Conference. Bryant tallied 30-plus points five times and eclipsed the 40-point plateau once, scoring in double figures in all 15 of the Lakers' contests.
