Howard, Bryant win weekly NBA awards

NEW YORK, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- Standout performances by Orlando's Dwight Howard and the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant earned them the NBA's weekly awards Monday.

Howard won the Eastern Conference Player of the Week honor for producing double-doubles in each of Orlando's four wins in the week ending Sunday. His 13.8 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game lead the league.

Bryant took the Western Conference honor by twice scoring more than 30 points in leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 3-1 record in the past week. He leads the conference in scoring at 28.8 points per game and the Lakers have the NBA's best record at 30-6.

Other nominees this week were Cleveland's LeBron James, Houston's Von Wafer, Miami's Dwyane Wade, New Jersey's Vince Carter, Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala and Andre Miller, Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge and Utah's Paul Millsap.