Karl-Anthony Towns
As the season continues to wind down, the playoff race in the Western Conference continues to heat up. With five teams out of contention and only two playoff berths clinched so far, six spots remain open for six teams to take. One of the teams fighting for one of those spots is the Minnesota Timberwolves, whose recent struggles have put their playoff spot in jeopardy. With a 4-6 record in March so far, a 2-2 this past week puts them in the 7th seed in the West with a 42-32 record, just a game and a half ahead of the 9th place Denver Nuggets. While the team has struggled lately, if Karl-Anthony Towns keeps playing the way he did this past week, they should be fine. For the week, Towns averaged 22.3 points, 12.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 49% from the field and 44% from three-point range.
Dennis Schroder
The Atlanta Hawks' season was an utter disaster. There's still about a month left in the season, but I don't think there's any arguing that their season was anything but an absolute trainwreck. Finding themselves at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with a 21-53 record, this past week's 1-2 outing did nothing to help a team that's already out of playoff contention. Still, looking on the bright side, Dennis Schroder has been having a pretty solid season, especially this week. For the week, Schroder averaged 28.5 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists per game while shooting 53% from the field. Schroder's best performance of the week came in a win over the Utah Jazz when he put up a career-high 41 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Dwight Howard
Unlike the Hawks, the Charlotte Hornets are one of five teams still fighting for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, but their chances aren't good right now. Currently, in 10th place with a 33-41 record, the Hornets find themselves six games behind the 8th seed Miami Heat. A 3-1 outing this past week certainly helped their case, but they still have an uphill battle to climb if they want to make a run at the NBA Championship. Leading the way for the Hornets this past week were two players. One of them was Dwight Howard. For the week, Howard averaged 20 points and 19 rebounds per game while shooting 50% from the field. Howard's best performance of the week was easily his outing in a win over the Brooklyn Nets that earned him a spot in the exclusive 30-30 club. Howard recorded 32 points and a career-high 30 rebounds, the first player to recorded 30 points and 30 rebounds in a game since Kevin Love in 2010 and just the eighth in history.
Kemba Walker
Dwight Howard was obviously a big part of the Hornets' success, he wasn't the only player on the roster who was a factor in the team's strong outing this past week. The other one was Kemba Walker, as he continues to have arguably the best season of his career. For the week, Walker helped lead the Hornets to a 3-1 outing and averaged 29.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.3 steals per game while shooting 46% from the field, 44% from three-point range, and a perfect 30/30 from the free throw line. Walker's best performance of the week came in the Hornets' monstrous 61-point win over the Memphis Grizzlies (the fifth largest margin of victory in NBA history), with Walker contributing 46 points and 4 assists.
Nikola Jokic
Another team fighting for a spot in the playoffs is the Denver Nuggets. Currently sitting in 9th place in the Western Conference with a 40-33 record, the Nuggets find themselves just a game and a half behind the 8th seed Utah Jazz. A 2-1 outing this past week helped improve their record, but they're going to need to keep up their winning ways if they want to make it to the playoffs. Leading the way for the Nuggets this past week was Nikola Jokic, who continues to put up the best numbers of his career in just his third season. For the week, Jokic averaged 26.7 points, 10 rebounds, and 4.3 assists while shooting 59% from the field, 69% from three-point range, and a perfect 9/9 from the free throw line. Jokic's best performance of the week came in a loss to the Miami Heat when he put up 34 points and 15 rebounds.
Anthony Davis
The New Orleans Pelicans had a busy week this past week, playing in five games over the last seven days. However, the Pelicans didn't show any signs of wear and tear, as they went 4-1 on the week and improved their record to 43-31 on the season. That certainly helped their chances of securing a playoff spot, as they now sit in the 5th seed of the Western Conference with a two and a half-game lead over the 9th place Nuggets. Leading the way for the Pelicans was Anthony Davis, who put in work during the busy week. For the week, Davis averaged 31.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 2.8 blocks per game while shooting 59% from the field and 36% from three-point range. Davis' best performance of the week came in a win over the Dallas Mavericks when he put up 37 points and 8 rebounds.
James Harden
With the season winding down, the Houston Rockets remain red hot as they further their lead over everyone in the NBA. Going 24-1 over the last two months, the Rockets now find themselves with a 60-14 record following a perfect 4-0 record this week, the best in both the Western Conference and the NBA. With their playoff berth already clinched and with a five and a half-game lead over the injury-plagued Golden State Warriors, things are looking perfect for the Rockets right about now. Leading the way for the Rockets this week, as he has all season, was James Harden. For the week, Harden averaged 31 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, 1.3 steals and a block per game while shooting 43% from the field. Harden's best performance of the week came in a win over the Portland Trail Blazers when he put up 42 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists.
LaMarcus Aldridge
After a terrible 2-7 outing in the month of February, the San Antonio Spurs were going to need to turn it around big time if they wanted to clinch a playoff berth. A 3-0 outing this week was the perfect way to turn it around, as they improved their record to 43-31 on the season. That puts them in the 6th seed in the Western Conference with a two and a half-game lead over the 9th place Denver Nuggets. Leading the charge on the Spurs run to secure a playoff spot is LaMarcus Aldridge, who went above and beyond and probably had the best week of his season so far. For the week, Aldridge averaged 35 points, 10 rebounds, a steal, and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting 60% from the field and 33% from three-point range. Aldridge's best performance of the week came in a win over the Utah Jazz when he put up a career-high 45 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks.
Russell Westbrook
Another team in the Western Conference looking to cement their spot in the playoffs are the Oklahoma City Thunder. Following the offseason additions of Paul George & Carmelo Anthony, a lot of people thought the Thunder would be one of the top teams in the West, and as of right now, they kind of are. Currently holding a 44-31 record, the Thunder sit in the 4th seed in the West. While they haven't clinched a playoff spot just yet, if George, Anthony, and especially Russell Westbrook keep up their winning ways just like they did this week (2-1 on the week) they should be fine. For the week, Westbrook averaged 31 points, 11.3 rebounds, 9.7 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 57% from the field and 63% from three-point range. Westbrook also recorded his 23rd triple-double of the season when he put up 37 points, 13 rebounds, and 14 assists in a win over the Toronto Raptors.
LeBron James
And rounding out my list for the best player of the week is LeBron James. For the third week in a row, nobody has been able to compete with James stat wise. With the Cleveland Cavaliers having clinched a playoff berth this past week, the only thing they have left to do is keep up their winning ways and keep the 3rd seed in the Eastern Conference. Currently holding a 44-29 record on the year, a 3-0 outing certainly helped them with their current standing and they now find themselves just six games behind the 2nd seed Boston Celtics. Leading the way for the Cavs this past week was, as always, James, who put up the absolute best numbers in the league. For the week, James averaged 34 points, 8.3 rebounds, 12 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 59% from the field and 36% from three-point range. James also put up his 16th triple-double of the year in a win over the Milwaukee Bucks with 40 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists.
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