Timberwolves’ Garnett and Hornets’ Magloire earn monthly awards

Garnett earned Western Conference Player of the Month honors after guiding his team to the West’s top seed in the playoffs. He averaged 22.7 points, 14.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.7 blocks and 2.0 steals per contest, while leading the Wolves to a perfect 6-0 record during the month. Minnesota is riding a nine-game winning streak heading into the playoffs.

In a 90-82 win over Memphis on April 4, Garnett netted 14 points and pulled down a game-high 22 boards. He followed that up with 24 points against the Kings on April 9 and had 29 in a win over the Golden State Warriors the following night. The four-time Player of the Month ended his week with a huge 21 point and 17 rebound effort in a win over the Jazz on April 12. Garnett also added four blocks and three assists in the triumph.

Minnesota will host the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs that begin on Sunday. The Wolves are looking to advance past the first round of the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

Magloire earned Eastern Conference Player of the Month honors after he helped his team clinch the fifth-seed in the post-season. Magloire averaged 21.7 points with 12.1 rebounds, while guiding the Hornets to a 4-3 mark in April.

Magloire netted 22 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in a 94-81 road victory over Portland on April 3. Magloire followed by posting a team-high 23 points to go along with his game-high 17 boards nearly a week later on April 9. His month was highlighted with a 26-point and 13-rebound performance against the Bucks, a 92-87 win. The Hornets will host the Miami Heat in the first round of their playoff series starting Sunday.

Other nominees for NBA Players of the Month included Stephen Jackson and Bobby Sura of the Atlanta Hawks, Marquis Daniels of the Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets’ rookie Carmelo Anthony, Detroit Pistons’ Jeff Foster, Lamar Odom of the Heat and Portland’s Zach Randolph.