The National Basketball Association announced Tuesday that Toronto Raptors guards DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry have been selected as co-winners for Eastern Conference Player of the Month. During 14 games in January, the duo combined to average 45.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 10.9 assists, while leading the Raptors in scoring during a stretch of 10 consecutive games in a franchise-record 11-game win streak. DeRozan and Lowry become the first players in team history to earn the honour twice, after being selected for April 2015 and December 2014, respectively.

DeRozan ranked second among Eastern Conference players in January, averaging 23.9 points and recording eight games with 20+ points. He shot .442 (118-for-267) from the field, .417 (15-for-36) from three-point range and .848 (84-for-99) at the free throw line. DeRozan scored a season-high 35 points January 8 at Washington and matched a career-high with 11 rebounds January 14 during an NBA Global Game in London, England versus Orlando. He also matched a career high with three consecutive 30-point games January 18-22, averaging 32.3 points during this stretch.

Lowry finished seventh in East scoring last month averaging 21.7 points and was the only player in the conference to record 300+ points, 90+ assists and 30+ steals. Lowry matched a season-high by making seven three-pointers January 18 versus Brooklyn and ranked second among East players with 39 three-pointers. He recorded five double-doubles during the month, which tied for second among East guards. Lowry recorded a season-high 11 assists January 1 versus Charlotte and matched a season high with 10 rebounds January 8 at Washington.

DeRozan and Lowry were selected to participate in the 65th NBA All-Star Game being played at Air Canada on Sunday, February 14. The last time a back-court duo from the host city was selected to participate in the All-Star Game was in 1972 when Jerry West and Gail Goodrich represented the Los Angeles Lakers at The Forum.