DENVER (AP) - Kobe Bryant scored 14 of his 31 points over the
final 5 1/2 minutes Monday night, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a
107-101 victory over the Denver Nuggets and a sweep of their
first-round series. Pau Gasol added 21 points in the Lakers' first sweep of a playoff
series since whitewashing New Jersey in the 2002 NBA finals, the last
time they won it all. The Nuggets became the first 50-win team to ever be swept in the first round of the playoffs. The Lakers will meet the winner of the Utah-Houston series, which the Jazz lead 3-1, in the Western Conference semifinals.Kobe Bryant scored 14 of his 31 points over the final 5 1/2 minutes
Monday night, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 107-101 victory over
the Denver Nuggets and a sweep of their first-round series.
Pau Gasol added 21 points in the Lakers' first sweep of a playoff
series since whitewashing New Jersey in the 2002 NBA finals, the last
time they won it all.
The Nuggets became the first 50-win team to ever be swept in the first
round of the playoffs.SOURCE: FOX SPORTS
Johnson, Hawks tie series with Celtics
Forget
about a Boston sweep. The Hawks are headed back to Beantown all tied up
with the mighty Celtics.
Joe Johnson scored 35 points - 20 in the fourth quarter - and Josh
Smith added 28 points and seven blocks for Atlanta, which surprised the
Celtics again 97-92 on Monday night to even the best-of-seven series at
two games apiece.
A Game 5 that many never expected to happen is now on, Wednesday night
in Boston.
The Hawks, who had the worst record (37-45) of any playoff team,
overcame two double-digit deficits to beat a team that won an
NBA-leading 66 games during the regular season.Full Story
Howard, Magic finish off Raptors in five
Orlando
Magic coach Stan Van Gundy saw something different about Dwight Howard
heading into the playoffs.
The 22-year-old All-Star, usually the team's biggest jokester, suddenly
got serious. So did his already-impressive numbers.
Howard had 21 points, 21 rebounds and three blocks - his third 20-20
game in the series - and the Magic advanced to second round for the
first time in 12 years by beating the Toronto Raptors 102-92 in Game 5
on Monday night.Full Story
