Kristaps Porzingis, Karl-Anthony Towns named Rookies of the Month

The New York Knicks' Kristaps Porzingis and the Minnesota Timberwolves' Karl-Anthony Towns today were named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month, respectively, for games played in October and November.

Porzingis, 20, the fourth pick in NBA Draft 2015, ranked third among all rookies in scoring (13.7 ppg) and was second in rebounding (9.3 rpg) and blocked shots (1.89 bpg) for October and November.

The 7-3 forward/center from Latvia also tied Towns for the rookie lead in double-doubles with eight, including a 29-point, 11-rebound effort Nov. 17 in a 102-94 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.

Towns, the first pick in NBA Draft 2015, ranked second among all rookies in scoring (14.4 ppg) and led first-year players in rebounding (9.4 rpg), blocks (2.18 bpg) and free throw percentage (86.7).

The 7-foot center from Kentucky was also third in field goal percentage (52.6). Towns registered double-doubles in six of his first eight games, highlighted by a 28-point, 14-rebound outing in his second career game, a 95-78 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Oct. 30.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month were Brooklyn's Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Denver's Emmanuel Mudiay, Detroit's Stanley Johnson, the Los Angeles Lakers' D'Angelo Russell, Miami's Justise Winslow and Philadelphia's T.J. McConnell and Jahlil Okafor.