Orlando's Turkoglu is NBA's most-improved

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NEW YORK, April 28 (UPI) -- The Orlando Magic's Hedo Turkoglu was voted to receive the Most Improved Player Award, the NBA announced Monday.

Turkoglu averaged 19.5 points a game -- nearly eight points more than his 11.7-points-per-game career average and the best of his eight-year NBA career. He also had solid improvements in rebounding and assists. He was twice named the NBA Eastern Conference player of the week and was the conference player of the month for April.

Turkoglu was listed first on 61 of the 125 Most Improved Player ballots sent in by sports writers and broadcasters across the United States and Canada. He was second on 22 other ballots and third on nine for a total of 380 points.

Memphis' Rudy Guy, with 23 first-place votes and 163 points, was the runner-up and Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge, with nine first-place votes and 112 points, was third.

Turkoglu is the fourth Orlando player to win the award, joining Tracy McGrady (2001), Darrell Armstrong (1999) and Scott Skiles (1991).