The Charlotte Bobcats' Al Jefferson and the Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant were Tuesday named the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month, respectively, for games played in March.
Jefferson ranked fifth in the NBA in scoring (24.7 ppg) and ninth in rebounding (10.6 rpg), while shooting .555 from the field, as the Bobcats went 9-7 to keep pace in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Jefferson topped the 30-point mark on three occasions, while finishing with nine point-rebound double-doubles.
Durant led the NBA in scoring (34.5 ppg) and added 6.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists as the Thunder went 10-4. He became the first player to average at least 33.0 points in three consecutive months since Michael Jordan during the 1989-90 season. Durant has scored at least 25 points in 38 straight games, two shy of the record 40 set by Jordan in 1989-90.
Other nominees for Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month were Houston's James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers' Blake Griffin, Miami's LeBron James, New York's Carmelo Anthony, Phoenix's Goran Dragic and San Antonio's Kawhi Leonard.