Wednesdays National Basketball Association Capsules
April 30th, 2009 Posted in NBA basketball newsDENVER Behind Carmelo Anthonys 34 points and the floor leadership of Chauncey Billups, the Denver native who came home this season and galvanized a city and a team, the Nuggets advanced to the second round of the NBA playoffs, 107-86 over the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday night.
After five straight first-round flameouts, Melo led the Nuggets to their first playoff series win since 1994. Theyll face the Dallas Mavericks in the second round.
Dallas advanced to the Western Conference semifinals by defeating San Antonio in five games. Denver swept the season series with the Mavericks 4-0.
Anthonys 34 points were a career playoff best. Billups had 13 points and 11 assists, and J.R. Smith scored 15 of his 20 points in the second half to fuel Denver, which needed just five games to go from traditional first-round fodder to a playoff success story.
David West led the Hornets with 24 points and Chris Paul had 12 points and 10 assists.
Hawks 106, Heat 91=
ATLANTA – On a night of hard fouls, plenty of banging and staredowns galore, the Hawks moved closer to reaching the second round of the NBA playoffs for the first time in a decade, taking a 3-2 lead in the series with the Heat.
Joe Johnson had his best game of the postseason with 25 points, and the Hawks took control during a decisive second quarter that pushed them to a 63-40 halftime lead. Flip Murray added 23 points.
Dwyane Wade had 29 points for the Heat, but banged his head on the court in the first half and didnt really get going until the game was already decided. Wade didnt get much help from his teammates. Michael Beasley had 18 points and Jermaine ONeal 14.
Josh Smith dunked his way to 20 points for the Hawks and even hit a rare 3-pointer. The Hawks also pounded the boards, outrebounding the Heat 37-29.
Game 6 is Friday night in Miami.
