Dwight Howard Named Eastern Conference Player of the Week

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Magic Center Dwight Howard was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the second time this season. Here’s the official word from the Magic:

ORLANDO’S DWIGHT HOWARD NAMED NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

NEW YORK, Dec. 21, 2009 – The Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, Dec. 14, through Sunday, Dec. 20. It marks the second time this season and the ninth time in his career that Howard has earned the league’s top weekly honor.

Howard recorded four double-doubles on the week, averaging 17.0 points and league highs of 17.8 rebounds and 4.5 blocks, as the Magic went 3-1. On Dec. 14, Howard tallied 21 points, 23 rebounds and four blocked shots, as Orlando defeated Indiana 106-98 at Amway Arena. He recorded a season-high eight blocks Dec. 16 in a 118-99 home win over Toronto.

Here is a recap of the week for Howard:

Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
Dec. 14 vs. Indiana: Posted 21 points, 23 rebounds and four blocks in a 106-98 win over the Pacers.
Dec. 16 vs. Toronto: Scored 18 points to go along with 14 rebounds and eight blocks in a 119-99 win over the Raptors.
Dec. 17 @ Miami: Tallied 17 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks in a 104-86 loss to the Heat.
Dec. 19 vs. Portland: Recorded 12 points, 20 rebounds, four blocks and two steals in a 92-83 win over the Trail Blazers.

Other nominees for the Eastern Conference Player of the Week were Atlanta’s Joe Johnson, Cleveland’s LeBron James and Miami’s Dwyane Wade.

(Andrew Melnick is Howard the Dunk’s lead blogger and a contributor at NFL Mocks Subscribe to his RSS feed and add him on Twitter to follow him daily.)