Hamilton, Bryant take home NBA weekly honors
(Sports Network)
Updated: 2006-01-24 09:38

Detroit Pistons guard Richard Hamilton and Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant were named the NBA's Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for the period ending January 22.

Detroit Pistons guard Richard Hamilton (32) drives around Houston Rockets forward Tracy McGrady (1) during the second half of their NBA game in Auburn Hills, Michigan, January 22, 2006. McGrady led both teams with 43 points and Hamilton finished with 24 as Detroit defeated Houston 99-97. [Reuters]

Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant holds his daughter Natalia after his 81-point performance against the Toronto Raptors during their NBA game in Los Angeles January 22, 2006. [Reuters]

Hamilton notched 22.3 points per game on .635 shooting from the field, making him one of just four guards shooting over 50 percent from the field. Hamilton contained opposing shooting guards to an average of 6.3 points and led Detroit to a 4-0 week after wins over Boston, Atlanta, New York and Houston.

Bryant shot.507 from the field this week to record a league-high 51.5 points per game. On Sunday, he recorded the second highest point total in NBA history when he scored 81 in a 122-104 win over Toronto on Sunday. Bryant hit 28- of-46 shots from the field, setting a Lakers' franchise record for points in a game (81), points in a half (55) and field goals made in a half (18). His output trailed only Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point performance for Philadelphia on March 2, 1962.

Other nominees for the weekly award included Los Angeles Clippers' Sam Cassell, Milwaukee's Michael Redd, New Orleans/Oklahoma City's Chris Paul, Orlando's Dwight Howard, San Antonio's Tony Parker and Toronto's Jalen Rose.