Jazz C Okur, Heat G Wade named NBA Players of the Week

Feb 5, 2007 - 8:55 PM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- The NBA has rewarded Mehmet Okur for picking up the slack for the Utah Jazz.

Okur and Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade were named the NBA Players of the Week on Monday.

The 6-11 Okur has been the driving force behind the surging Jazz, who will be without injured All-Star forward Carlos Boozer for at least four weeks.

The Jazz have rallied without their star forward thanks to Okur, who scored a total of 60 points in last week's wins over Western Conference powerhouses San Antonio and Phoenix.

Three days after pouring in 31 points in a 97-93 home triumph over the Spurs, Okur finished with 29 points and 12 rebounds to lift the Jazz to a 108-105 road victory over the Suns.

In three games last week, Okur averaged 26.0 points, 11.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists. The five-year veteran is averaging 17.9 points and 7.5 rebounds in 48 games this season.

Wade captured Eastern Conference honors after leading the Heat to a 3-0 record last week. The All-Star guard averaged 33.7 points, 7.3 assists, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals.

In a nationally televised game against fellow superstar LeBron James on Thursday, Wade stole the show, scoring 24 of his season-high 41 points in the fourth quarter to pace Miami to a 92-89 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The reigning NBA Finals MVP, the 6-4 Wade is averaging career bests of 28.8 points and 7.8 assists in 40 games for the Heat this season.