Raptors’ Lowry named Eastern Conference player of week

Toronto Raptors' Kyle Lowry, right, goes to the basket against Orlando Magic's Dewayne Dedmon. (Mark Blinch/CP)

TORONTO — Kyle Lowry’s strong performance earned him Eastern Conference player of the week.

The two-time all-star led the Toronto Raptors to a 4-1 record, averaging 27.2 points for fourth in the East in scoring, and leading the NBA in fourth-quarter scoring with 10.8 points. He also posted 6.8 assists, 6.4 rebounds, 2.2 steals and shot 47 per cent from three-point range.

The award was the fourth for Lowry as a Raptor and fifth in his career.

Lowry recorded double-doubles on consecutive nights — March 14 versus Chicago (33 points, 11 rebounds) and March 15 at Milwaukee (25 points, 11 assists) — to start the week. He followed up by scoring eight of the team’s 16 points in overtime March 17 at Indiana and then 13 of his game-high 32 points in the fourth quarter March 18 versus Boston.

Lowry leads the NBA averaging 2.16 steals per game and helped Toronto’s defence rank fourth in the NBA last week.

Raptors centre Bismack Biyombo was a nominee for the weekly award. Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant won the West award.

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