The Atlanta Hawks booked a showdown with superstar LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers as they notched one last double-digit victory over Miami to close out their NBA playoff series.
Joe Johnson scored 27 points on Sunday to lead the Hawks to a 91-78 victory over the Heat and that saw them win their Eastern Conference first-round series 4-3.
“I was just trying to be more aggressive,” said Johnson, whose effort included a three-pointer from near mid-court that astounded Miami star Dwyane Wade. “I haven’t put up a three that long in a while. I said: ‘Forget it,’ and just launched it. Making that got me into a little rhythm.”
PHOTO: AFP
It was yet another lopsided win in a series that produced little drama, despite going the maximum seven games.
All seven games saw just 15 lead changes in total — none after the first quarter and each was decided by at least 10 points.
A close first quarter ended with the Hawks ahead 20-18 and they moved on steadily from there. Atlanta led 49-36 by halftime and by as many as 29 points in the final quarter, reaching the second round for the first time in a decade.
The Heat, led by Most Valuable Player candidate Wade, had forced Game 7 with a 98-72 victory on Friday.
Wade scored 31 points, but most of them came after Atlanta had established a comfortable cushion and it wasn’t enough to extend Miami’s season.
That the Heat were even back in the playoffs marked a remarkable turnaround from a woeful 15-67 record in their previous campaign.
“I’m very encouraged by this season,” Wade said. “The team that won 15 games last year came back to win 43 games this year and took Atlanta to seven games in the playoffs. We’ve got something to build on.”
Even though it wasn’t close, there were some tense moments at the finish as Hawks fans taunted the Heat with chants of “Hey, hey, hey, goodbye.”
Driving to the basket, Atlanta’s Zaza Pachulia was seized around the neck by Miami forward Udonis Haslem, who was ejected for a flagrant foul.
Atlanta coach Mike Woodson, meanwhile, raced onto the court to make sure his players kept their cool, knowing he can’t afford to have anyone suspended when the Hawks take on the top-seeded Cavaliers in a series that starts today.
■WESTERN CONFERENCE
AFP, DENVER, COLORADO
The Denver Nuggets opened the second round of the NBA playoffs on Sunday with an emphatic 109-95 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
Denver’s Brazilian forward Nene scored 18 of his career playoff-high 24 points in the first half as Denver took a 51-47 halftime lead.
Carmelo Anthony scored 23 points, including a dunk off a behind-the-back pass from J.R. Smith that roused the Denver fans in the waning minutes as the Nuggets took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference semi-final series.
Dirk Nowitzki led Dallas with 28 points and 10 rebounds, while Josh Howard, Jason Kidd and Jason Terry scored 15 points apiece.
The Nuggests host Game 2 today, hoping to extend their home winning streak to 14 games, including four in post-season.
Denver appeared poised to run away with it in the third period, as their defense manufactured several fast-break baskets.
“Offensively, we were good,” Karl said, “But defensively, we were really good.”
That defense contributed to 20 Dallas turnovers, including eight by Jason Kidd — who had just three in the first round.
The Nuggets outscored the Mavericks 29-4 on fast breaks, but Dallas coach Rick Carlisle was particularly annoyed by Denver’s 36-13 advantage from the free-throw line.
“We’re going to have to raise our level of aggression if that’s what’s going to get us to the free-throw line,” said Carlisle, after Nowitzki took just four foul shots and one technical.
The Mavericks were energized by Antoine Wright’s three-pointer and pulled within 82-80 early in the fourth quarter after Terry made a three-pointer and Nowitzki nailed a jump shot.
Denver responded with a 15-4 scoring run that put the Mavericks away.
The first half was marked by aggressive play, with Denver’s Kenyon Martin throwing Nowitzki to the floor.
Howard, who spent significant time on the sidelines during the regular season, twisted his right ankle when he got entangled with Billups. He went to the locker room, but was back before halftime.
“I can’t avoid injuries,” Howard said. “Right now, I could get hurt walking off a plane.”
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