DALLAS — Mavericks guard J.J. Barea was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played from Monday, March 28 through Sunday, April 3, the NBA announced today.
It’s the first time in his career that Barea has received the honor. It was also the first time a Maverick garnered the award since Monta Ellis was named POW on April 13, 2014.
Barea led Dallas to a perfect 4-0 week with victories over Denver, New York, Detroit and Minnesota. He averaged 23.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 6.8 assists during that stretch while shooting 52.1 percent (38-of-73) from the field and 12-of-25 (.480) from 3-point range. Barea led Dallas outright in scoring in all four games during the week and led the team in assists in all four as well (including ties).
Barea began the week with an 18-point, 11-assist effort at Denver on March 28. He followed that up by scoring 20-plus points in each of the next three games (26 vs. New York 3/30, 29 at Detroit 4/1, 21 at Minnesota 4/3). It marked the first time in his career that Barea posted 20-plus points in three straight games. He racked up 94 points in the four-game span, the most he’s totaled in any four-game stretch in his career.
On the season, Barea is averaging 10.9 points, 4.1 assists and 22.5 minutes in 71 games (13 starts). He is shooting a career-high 44.7 percent (303-of-678) from the field and a career-high 38.9 percent (95-of-244) from 3-point range. Since the All-Star break, Barea is averaging 13.9 points and 4.5 assists while shooting 50.2 percent (125-of-249) from the floor and 44.9 percent (35-of-78) from deep.
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