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Jazz center Al Jefferson was named the Western Conference player of the week, the NBA announced Monday.
Jefferson averaged 20 points and 15.3 rebounds while Utah went 3-0 and moved into eighth place in the West with just two contests to go.
The 27-year-old big man poured in a team-high 28 points April 16 during a triple-overtime victory against Dallas, while tying a career high with 28 rebounds and playing a game-high 54 minutes.
Jefferson is the first Jazz player to win the award this season and it's the fourth time he's been honored in his eight-year career.
He's averaging 19.4 points and 9.6 rebounds this season in 59 games (all starts). Jefferson's shooting 49.4 percent from the field and a career-high 77.5 percent from the free throw line, while recording 1.7 blocks and 0.8 steals.
Miami's LeBron James won the Eastern Conference player of the week.
Jefferson's week:
April 16 vs. Dallas — Scored 28 points and matched a career-high with 26 rebounds in a 123-121 triple-overtime victory over the Mavericks.
April 18 at Portland: Scored 11 points to go along with 10 rebounds in a 112-91 win over the Trail Blazers.
March 30 vs. Orlando: Tallied 21 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks in a 117-107 overtime win over the Magic.
Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference players of the week were Denver's Ty Lawson, the Los Angeles Clippers' Chris Paul, New York's Carmelo Anthony, San Antonio's Manu Ginobili, and Washington's Kevin Seraphin and John Wall.
Brian T. SmithTwitter: @tribjazz