NBA Playoffs Results
Western Conference
Los Angeles Lakers 2 – Denver Nuggets 0
New Orleans Hornets 2 – Dallas Mavericks 0
San Antonio Spurs 2 – Phoenix Suns 0
Utah Jazz 2 – Houston Rockets 0
Eastern Conference
Boston Celtics 2 – Atlanta Hawks 0
Detroit Pistons 1 – Philadelphia 76ers 1
Orlando Magic 2 – Toronto Raptors 0
Cleveland Cavaliers 2 – Washington Wizards 0
Dallas Mavericks 103 – New Orleans Hornets 127
Chris Paul scored 32 points, also setting a franchise playoff-record 17 assists, surpassing Muggsy Bogues’ 15 assists, and leading the Hornets to a 127-103 victory against the Mavericks that gave the Hornets a 2-0 lead in their first-round best-of-seven series. David West added 27 points and Peja Stojakovic had 22 points, Tyson Chandler made his second double-double of the series scoring 10 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, Morris Peterson contributed 12 points and reserve guard Jannero Pargo scored 10 points for the Hornets, which was 10-of-18 on 3-pointers, with Stojakovic hitting 5-of-7, and posted a double-digit lead during the second quarter, and led by as much as 25 points during the third quarter. The Hornets shot 71 percent from the field and set a franchise playoff record with 39 first quarter points.
Dirk Nowitzki led Dallas, scoring 27 points, but looked frustrated during most of the game. Brandon Bass was another bright spot for Dallas, muscling inside for 19 points, reserve Jason Terry scored 16 points and Josh Howard scored 10 points. The Mavs hoped Jason Kidd would be big factor in the game, but he scored only 7 points and dished out 8 assists. The Mavs hurt themselves more, commiting 7 turnovers during the second quarter, which the Hornets converted into 10 points, as they increased the deficit to 67-51 by the end of two quarters.
Toronto Raptors 103 – Orlando Magic 104
Magic’s three-point shots diminished, but Dwight Howard’s 29 points and 20 rebounds helped the Magic get past the Raptors, 104-103, for a 2-0 lead in their first-round best-of-seven playoff series. Playing two playoff games, two 20-point, 20-rebound outings for Howard, he was the difference in the game, no questions asked. Jameer Nelson and Rashard Lewis each scored 18 points for the Magic, Hedo Turkoglu made the go-ahead layup and finished with 12 points and 9 rebounds. Magic won the game despite shooting 9-of-31 from 3-point range — including a combined 0-of-13 for Turkoglu and Lewis.
Chris Bosh scored 29 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Raptors, but missed a 19-foot jump shot with 1.9 seconds left that could have won the game. Jason Kapono scored 20 points, Jose Calderon contributed 18 points and Carlos Delfino added 16 points for the Raptors.
Turkoglu was slapped with a flagrant foul during the second quarter while defending Bosh. The Raptors star was able to steal a pass and clearly had a shot at the basket when Turkoglu caught up then pushed him hard to the floor, Howard picked up a technical in the third quarter jawing with Delfino after the making a layup, plus the foul on the guard during the third quarter, making the game much more physical than the Game 1.
Phoenix Suns 96 – San Antonio Spurs 102
Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili continuously drove to the rim again and again as the Spurs beat the Suns 102-96 — this time no double overtime or a game-saving 3-pointer from Tim Duncan — to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of seven series. Parker scored 32 points and Ginobili scored 29 points for the Spurs, who kept their home-court advantage.
For two straight games, the Suns saw their double-digit, first-half lead. The Spurs were down by as many as 14 points early in the game before outscoring the Suns 27-11 in a breakout third quarter to take control. Amare Stoudemire led the Suns, scoring 33 points but was struggling on the second half where he shot only 2-of-11 from the field. Steve Nash scored 23 points and dsihed out 10 assists, Shaquille O’Neal added 19 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for the Suns.
Philadelphia 76ers 88 – Detroit Pistons 105
Rasheed Wallace scored 16 points, 11 points coming in the first quarter alone with a lot of help at both ends of the court in a 105-88 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 2. Chauncey Billups made his first field goal, a three-pointer, in the early goings of the third quarter and made one more three later in the quarter to put Detroit ahead 73-47. Richard Hamilton finished with a score of 20 points and dished out 7 assists, Tayshaun Prince and Antonio McDyess both contributed 16 points and rookie Rodney Stuckey scored 12 after being held scoreless in his playoff debut.
Andre Iguodala was held scoreless in the first half, shooting 0-for-7, and finishing with only 4 points after scoring 16 in Game 1. Samuel Dalembert of the Sixers scored only 3 points, Thaddeus Young scored 11 points and Willie Green added 6 points. Sixers’ reserves Louis Williams added 17 points, Reggie Evans added 13 points and Rodney Carney added 11 points all scored career playoff highs.
Atlanta Hawks 77 – Boston Celtics 96
Rajon Rondo silenced Atlanta’s blustery point guard, Mike Bibby, and Kevin Garnett scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Celtics beat the Hawks 96-77 to take a 2-0 lead in the first-round best-of-seven series. Rondo scored 12 points with 8 assists and 6 rebounds, and Paul Pierce returned from a first-quarter knockdown to score 14 points for the Celtics. Josh Smith helped take Pierce down, landing on him and rolling over his head just 82 seconds into the game. Pierce left for the rest of the first quarter, getting a rubdown for what the team said was a lower back strain; he returned for the start of the second quarter.
The crowd set the atmosphere in the new Garden, giving a standing pregame ovation to Garnett who was presented with the Defensive Player of the Year award, the fans chanting "MVP", Garnett motioned for his teammates to join him at center court, then raised the trophy above his head. The Hawks took the game to a physical level, when Joe Johnson fouled Pierce to prevent an easy layup, then Smith came from the side and slammed Pierce to the floor, landing on top of his chest before rolling over his head. It remained quiet until James Posey of the Celtics was called for a flagrant foul when he knocked Smith to the floor with 8:39 left in the game.
Denver Nuggets 107 – Los Angeles Lakers 122
Kobe Bryant scored 49 points and dished out 10 assists, as the Lakers beat the Nuggets 122-107 to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round best-of-seven playoff series. Bryant, who went 18-for-27 from the field, finished one point below his career playoff high, scoring 20 points in the first quarter to jumpstart the Lakers, and then scoring 19 points in the last seven minutes to keep them safely ahead. Pau Gasol scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Luke Walton scored 18 points,. Lamar Odom, hampered by foul trouble throughout the second half, scored only 4 points, took 4 rebounds and had 6 assists for the Lakers.
Allen Iverson scored 31 points and had 6 assists to lead the Nuggets. Carmelo Anthony contributed 23 points, J.R. Smith had a career playoff high 21 points, Marcus Camby grabbed 17 rebounds, and Kenyon Martin scored 10 points before fouling out for the Nuggets. Linas Kleiza was part of the starting line-up for the Nuggets in place of Anthony Carter, giving more firepower and additional size.
Source: ESPN: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/
