Bryant and Odom capture NBA monthly honors

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant earned Western Conference Player of the Month honors after leading his team to a 13-3 record during March. He averaged 25.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists, shooting 45 percent from the field.

The Lakers have posted nine straight wins — including victories over Conference powers Minnesota and Sacramento — to pull within one game of the Kings for first place in the Pacific Division and Western Conference.

In the Eastern Conference, Miami Heat forward Lamar Odom has led one of the more surprising turnarounds by any team this season. Odom averaged 17.4 points and 10.9 rebounds in March as the Heat used a 12-3 record to climb the Conference playoff ladder and move into a tie for fourth place.

In a March 6 victory over Sacramento, Odom posted the first Miami Heat triple- double in nine years with a season-high 30 points, a career-high 19 rebounds and 11 assists.

Other nominees for Players of the Month included Cleveland’s Carlos Boozer, Dallas’ Steve Nash, Denver’s Carmelo Anthony, Detroit’s Richard Hamilton, Indiana’s Ron Artest and Jermaine O’Neal, Los Angeles Lakers’ Shaquille O’Neal, Memphis’ James Posey, Minnesota’s Kevin Garnett, New York’s Stephon Marbury and Philadelphia’s Kenny Thomas.