Yao Ming Loses Out to Mike Finley for Western Conference Player of the Week

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Marbury, Finley Named Players of the Week

NEW YORK, Jan. 20 – The New York Knicks’ Stephon Marbury and Dallas Mavericks’ Michael Finley were today named the Eastern Conference and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, January 12 through Sunday, January 18.

Marbury led the Knicks to a 3-1 record averaging 22.5 points, a league-high 12.3 assists and 2.5 rebounds, recording back-to-back double-doubles (points-assists) against the Dallas Mavericks and Orlando Magic.

Finley and the Mavericks went 4-0 for the week, including back-to-back overtime victories over New York and Philadelphia. Finley averaged 26.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists over 45.3 minutes per game.

Here is a closer look at the week for Marbury and Finley:

Stephon Marbury, New York Knicks
Jan. 12 vs. Dallas – Scored a game-high 38 points on 14-of-24 shooting, while recording a game-high 14 assists in a 127-121 overtime loss to the Mavericks.
Jan. 14 vs. Orlando – Had 26 points, 10 assists and two rebounds as the Knicks defeated the Magic 120-110 at Madison Square Garden.
Jan. 16 vs. Seattle – Recorded eight points, and a NBA season-high 17 assists, three rebounds and two steals in a 108-88 win over Seattle.
Jan. 17 @ Chicago – Had 18 points, hitting 11-12 FTA, and handed out eight assists in a 101-96 victory over the Bulls.

Michael Finley, Dallas Mavericks
Jan. 12 @ New York – Scored 25 points with 10 rebounds and six assists playing all 53 minutes as the Mavericks defeated the Knicks 127-121 in overtime.
Jan. 14 vs. Philadelphia – Recorded a team-high 32 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals as the Mavericks defeated the Sixers 125-122 in double-overtime.
Jan. 16 @ Denver – Had 16 points, five rebounds and five assists helping the Mavericks record a Midwest Division win over the Nuggets, 91-88.
Jan. 17 @ Portland – Scored a game-high 33 points on 13-of-23 shooting, while adding two rebounds and two assists in a 108-104 victory over the Trail Blazers.

Other nominees for Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Cleveland’s LeBron James, Detroit’s Richard Hamilton, Houston’s Yao Ming, Indiana’s Jermaine O’Neal, Miami’s Lamar Odom, Minnesota’ Sam Cassell, New York’s Keith Van Horn, Orlando’s Tracy McGrady, Philadelphia’s Allen Iversonand Phoenix’s Joe Johnson and Amare Stoudemire.