DeRozan, Lowry, Durant named NBA Players of the Month

DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry of the Toronto Raptors have been named co-Eastern Conference Players of the Month, while Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder has been named Western Conference Player of the Month for January.

This marks the second consecutive month in which Durant earns such an honor - the 27-year-old superstar got the nod, along with teammate Russell Westbrook, for his work in December.

The "Durantula" led his team to a 13-3 record in January - a stretch in which he was second in the league in scoring (28.5) while averaging 9.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists.

Scoring at least 25 points in 11 of the Thunder's 16 games last month, Durant exploded for 44 points in a Jan. 26 overtime win over the New York Knicks.

Lowry and DeRozan - each of whom were named Player of the Month once last season - have been rewarded for a stellar January, as the dynamic duo helped the Raptors reach a franchise-record 11-game winning streak.

Related: Dwane Casey, Doc Rivers named Coaches of the Month

DeRozan - who was recently named an All-Star reserve - racked up 23.9 points per game through 14 games, adding 4.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists to boot.

The USC product reached the 30-point mark four separate times in the month, highlighted by a 35-point performance against the Washington Wizards on Jan. 8.

Lowry, meanwhile, finished January with 21.7 points, shot 40.2 percent from three-point land, and dished out 6.7 assists - good for fourth in the Eastern Conference. The two-time All-Star starter led the conference in minutes played (39) and steals (2.7).

On Jan. 18, Toronto's backcourt tandem achieved a first in terms of dual 30-point scoring outputs in a single game.

Other nominees included Chicago's Jimmy Butler, Cleveland's LeBron James, Golden State's Stephen Curry, Houston's James Harden, the Los Angeles Clippers' DeAndre Jordan and Chris Paul, Miami's Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook, Portland's Damian Lillard and Sacramento's DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo.