Bryant, Turkoglu earn monthly honors

Apr 17, 2008 - 6:46 PM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Los Angles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and Orlando Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu on Thursday were named the NBA's Players of the Month for April.

Bryant takes the Western Conference honor after helping the Lakers go 7-1 and earn the top spot in the conference for the playoffs. He averaged 26.1 points and 5.5 assists in April.

Bryant scored 20 or more points in seven of the team's eight games in April, including a pair of 30-plus point efforts. In a win over Portland on April 2, Bryant led the Lakers with 36 points and 13 rebounds.

Turkoglu earned the Eastern Conference honor, leading the Magic to 5-3 mark for the month. He averaged 19.8 points on 50.4 percent shooting and 6.4 assists.

Turkoglu led the Magic in scoring in five of the team's eight games, while helping Orlando secure a No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.