Carter and Nowitzki earn NBA monthly honors

Carter captured the award for the Eastern Conference with a stellar month that included averages of 30.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists. He posted 30-plus points in six games and led New Jersey in scoring in 11 of its 13 contests during the month.

Nowitzki garnered Western Conference honors by averaging 27.2 points, 10.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists. He has registered eight double-doubles over the last 10 games and netted 30-or-more points in five contests. Nowitzki’s excellent play was a big reason why Dallas went 10-3 during February.

Other nominees for the awards included Cleveland’s LeBron James, Detroit’s Chauncey Billups and Tayshaun Prince, Golden State’s Jason Richardson, Houston’s Tracy McGrady, Miami’s Dwyane Wade, Milwaukee’s Michael Redd, Orlando’s Grant Hill, Philadelphia’s Allen Iverson, Phoenix’s Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudemire, San Antonio’s Tony Parker, Seattle’s Ray Allen, Toronto’s Chris Bosh and Washington’s Gilbert Arenas.

The NBA also announced Coaches of the Month for February. Larry Brown of the Detroit Pistons grabbed the award for the Eastern Conference, while Denver’s George Karl won it for the Western Conference.

Brown’s Pistons were 9-1 in February, marking the team’s highest winning percentage in a month since they went 10-1 in February of 1990. Not surprisingly, Detroit played excellent defense, holding its opponents to under 90 points in seven of its nine wins.

Karl led the Nuggets to an 8-4 record in his first full month as the team’s head coach. He was hired on January 27 to replace interim head coach Michael Cooper and Denver is 10-4 since the change.

Other nominees for the Coach of the Month award were Boston’s Doc Rivers, Dallas’ Don Nelson, Houston’s Jeff Van Gundy, Miami’s Stan Van Gundy, Milwaukee’s Terry Porter and Seattle’s Nate McMillan.