Porzingis, Towns named Rookies of the Month
NEW YORK — The New York Knicks' Kristaps Porzingis and the Minnesota Timberwolves' Karl-Anthony Towns today were named the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month, respectively, for games played in October and November.
Porzingis, 20, the fourth pick in NBA Draft 2015 presented by State Farm, ranked third among all rookies in scoring (13.7 ppg) and was second in rebounding (9.3 rpg) and blocked shots (1.89 bpg) for October and November. The 7-3 forward/center from Latvia also tied Towns for the rookie lead in double-doubles with eight, including a 29-point, 11-rebound effort Nov. 17 in a 102-94 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. On Nov. 21, Porzingis finished with 24 points, 14 rebounds and seven blocks in a 107-102 win over the Houston Rockets, becoming the first rookie to reach those totals since Tim Duncan in 1998.
Towns, the first pick in NBA Draft 2015 presented by State Farm, ranked second among all rookies in scoring (14.4 ppg) and led first-year players in rebounding (9.4 rpg), blocks (2.18 bpg) and free throw percentage (86.7). The 7-foot center from Kentucky was also third in field goal percentage (52.6). Towns registered double-doubles in six of his first eight games, highlighted by a 28-point, 14-rebound outing in his second career game, a 95-78 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Oct. 30. With that performance, Towns became the first player to record double-doubles in his first two NBA games at age 19 or younger. He turned 20 on Nov. 15.
http://www.nba.com/2015/news/12/03/porzingis-towns-rookies-of-the-month/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpts