James Harden of the Houston Rockets and D'Angelo Russell of the Brooklyn Nets have been named the Western and Eastern Conference Players of the Week for games played between Jan. 14-20, the NBA announced on Tuesday.
| Western Conference | Eastern Conference | |
| Week 1 | Nikola Jokic | Kemba Walker |
| Week 2 | Stephen Curry | Giannis Antetokounmpo |
| Week 3 | Russell Westbrook | Victor Oladipo |
| Week 4 | CJ McCollum | Pascal Siakam |
| Week 5 | Anthony Davis | Nikola Vucevic |
| Week 6 | Tobias Harris | Giannis Antetokounmpo |
| Week 7 | Paul Millsap | Kawhi Leonard |
| Week 8 | Stephen Curry | Bradley Beal |
| Week 9 | James Harden | Thaddeus Young |
| Week 10 | Paul George | Giannis Antetokounmpo |
| Week 11 | James Harden | Giannis Antetokounmpo |
| Week 12 | Donovan Mitchell | Kawhi Leonard |
| Week 13 | James Harden | D'Angelo Russell |
James Harden, Houston Rockets
Harden averaged 54.3 points per game last week on 48.5 percent shooting from the field, 35.8 percent from the 3-point line and 89.3 percent from the free throw line.
The reigning MVP scored a season-high 57 points against the Memphis Grizzlies. He followed that game up by setting a new season-high of 58 points in an overtime loss to the Brooklyn Nets two days later.
In Houston's final game of the week, Harden led the Rockets to an overtime win over the Los Angeles Lakers with 48 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals.
.@JHarden13 is your Western Conference Player of the Week!
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) January 21, 2019
Full Story 📰: https://t.co/5GsOBZ9BtN pic.twitter.com/G1YwIskrBw
According to ESPN, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant are the only players in the last 50 seasons to have scored more total points than Harden in a three-game span. Harden also became only the second player in NBA history — the other being Wilt Chamberlain — to score 30-plus points in 19 consecutive games with his performance against the Lakers.
Harden will have an opportunity to extend that streak to 20 games on Tuesday when the Rockets take on the Philadelphia 76ers.
D'Angelo Russell, Brooklyn Nets
Russell scored only 10 points in Brooklyn's overtime win over Houston, but we exploded for a combined 74 points in the franchise's two other games last week.
Russell finished with 34 points in a win over the Boston Celtics on Jan. 15. He shot 13-for-26 from the field and 7-for-13 from the 3-point line.
Russell then tied his career-high with a 40-point showing against the Orlando Magic on Jan. 19. Russell made eight of his 12 3-point attempts in the game, the last of which helped the Nets extend their win streak to three games.
D'Angelo Russell to take the lead and tie his career-high 40 PTS! #WeGoHard 116#PureMagic 113
— NBA (@NBA) January 19, 2019
27.1 left on NBALP: https://t.co/Ody70LeP5E pic.twitter.com/G7GVeX3FWM
The Nets now have a 24-23 record on the season, good enough for the No. 6 spot in the Eastern Conference. Russell has been a huge reason why they've been able to keep themselves in playoff contention despite losing Caris LeVert to a gruesome ankle injury early in the season.