Gasol again an NBA player of the week

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NEW YORK, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol won his second consecutive NBA Western Conference player of the week award, the league said Monday.

The Eastern Conference honor went to Orlando's Dwight Howard. Gasol and Howard were cited for their play in games Feb. 16-22.

Gasol, also a player of the week last Monday, helped the Lakers to a 4-0 week. He averaged 20.3 points, 10.8 rebounds and 6.5 assists. On Thursday he had his third career triple-double by piling up 12 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in a win over Atlanta.

Howard led the NBA with 15 rebounds a game last week. He also scored 25.5 points a game as the Magic went 3-1 on the week. He had a career-high 45 points to go with 19 rebounds and eight blocked shots in a win Tuesday over Charlotte.

Also considered for NBA player of the week honors were: Cleveland's LeBron James, Houston's Yao Ming, Indiana's Troy Murphy, Los Angeles Lakers' Lamar Odom, Miami's Dwyane Wade, Milwaukee's Richard Jefferson and Charlie Villanueva, New York's Nate Robinson, Portland's Brandon Roy and Utah's Deron Williams.