Lakers, Mavericks, Hawks into next round
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Kobe Bryant scored 22 of his 24 points in the first three quarters, then let his Los Angeles teammates take over in a 98-80 victory over the host New Orleans Hornets yesterday that wrapped up the NBA first-round series for the Lakers in six games.
Andrew Bynum added 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Pau Gasol chipped in 16 points for the two-time defending champions, who led by as many as 21 in the fourth quarter.
Chris Paul, who helped the Hornets split the first four games with two sensational performances, had just seven points before hitting a 3-pointer with 4:02 to go and finished with 10 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds.
Lamar Odom had 14 points for the Lakers, who outrebounded New Orleans 43-30, including 14 offensive rebounds. Bynum had eight offensive rebounds, helping the Lakers finish with a 21-4 advantage in second-chance points.
The Lakers will face Dallas in the second round. Game 1 is Monday at Staples Center.
Mavericks 103, Trail Blazers 96
In Portland, Dirk Nowitzki had 33 points and 11 rebounds to help Dallas resist a furious Portland comeback to take the first-round playoff series in six games.
Jason Terry finished with 22 points as the Mavericks snapped the home-court advantage that each team had held during the playoffs and the regular season.
The Blazers led by as many as 12 points early after Gerald Wallace went on a tear with 13 first-quarter points. But Wallace left the game for much of the second quarter with a sore back and Portland surrendered the lead.
Wallace finished with 32 points and 12 rebounds, while LaMarcus Aldridge added 24 points and 10 rebounds.
Wallace's fast-break dunk narrowed it to 86-85 with 5:24 to go, but Jason Kidd answered with a 3-pointer and Terry added a step-back jumper to put the Mavericks up 91-85 with 4:04 left.
The Mavericks had been eliminated in the first round in three of the last four seasons.
Hawks 84, Magic 81
In Atlanta, Joe Johnson scored 23 points and came up with a huge offensive rebound to lead Atlanta over Orlando in the series-clinching Game 6.
The Hawks advanced to the second round for the third straight year, this time against top-seeded Chicago.
Orlando, which routed Atlanta a year ago in the most lopsided four-game sweep in NBA history, had its earliest playoff ouster since 2007.
With Atlanta clinging to a one-point lead and the clock running down, Marvin Williams missed a potential clinching 3-pointer. But Johnson swatted the rebound to Jamal Crawford, who was fouled and made both free throws with 8.2 seconds left. He finished with 19 points.
The Magic had two chances to force overtime. J.J. Redick missed an open 3, then Jason Richardson had a desperation shot from the corner blocked.
Dwight Howard led the Magic with 25 points and 15 rebounds.
Crawford hit consecutive 3s that gave Atlanta its biggest lead, 71-59, with just over 9 minutes left. The Magic answered with an 8-0 spurt.
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