PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns are the hottest team in the west as the winners of five straight games and their play is being noticed by the NBA as forward Kevin Durant was named the Western Conference Player of the Week on Monday.
Durant led the way for the Suns in Week 13 of the NBA season, helping the team get wins over the Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Pelicans and Indiana Pacers.
Durant averaged 31 points per game in those three contests, scoring 27 points against the Kings, 26 points against the Pelicans and 40 points against the Pacers. Durant shot 60% percent from the floor, and 47.8% from behind the three-point line in those three games and grabbed 6.3 rebounds per game as well.
Durant's 40 points against Indiana came without him attempting a free throw, which had never happened before in the history of the Suns.
This is the 32nd time Durant has been named a Player of the Week by the NBA and the first time during the 2023-24 season. It was also his first Player of the Week honor since being traded to Phoenix in February 2023.
He is the second member of the Phoenix Suns to win the award this season, as Devin Booker was honored in November.
Durant has the third most Player of the Week awards in NBA history behind Kobe Bryant (33) and LeBron James (67).
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week as he scored 37.8 points per game and grabbed 8.5 rebounds per game in Philadelphia's four wins last week.
The Suns will be back on the court Monday night, hosting the Chicago Bulls at the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to five major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks and NHL's Arizona Coyotes.
The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale. The Coyotes play at Mullett Arena on ASU's Tempe campus.
Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events on a yearly basis, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.
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