The Atlanta Hawks were able to limit Dwyane Wade and tie their series 2-2, but it’s the Western Conference games that provide the headlines today. The LA Lakers beat the Utah Jazz to become the second team to advance to the next round, and the Denver Nuggets humiliated the New Orleans Hornets, tying the NBA-record for biggest margin in the playoffs by winning the game by 58 points.

Eastern Conference:

Atlanta Hawks 81 - Miami Heat 71

Series tied 2-2

• Finally, Atlanta wins one on the road. Fighting hard and playing good D, the Hawks were able to contain Dwyane Wade (22 points on 9-for-26 shooting) and the Heat, to tie their series 2 games apiece. Wade was also suffering from back spasms, and his teammates’ contributions (Jermaine O’Neal had 20 points, and James Jones had 19) were not enough.
• It was the usual balanced effort from the Hawks, but starting center wasn’t feeling it (he finished with only 4 points and 3 rebounds). Instead, they got a huge boost off the bench. Zaza Pachulia had 12 points and 18 rebounds were key for the Hawks.
• With both teams having won at home and on the road, this will be a great series. If Wade gets to 100% health, the Hawks will have to figure out a way to stop him and his teammates, who have showed some signs of consistency over the past games.

*****

Western Conference:

Denver Nuggets 121 - New Orleans Hornets 63

Denver leads series 3-1

• Wow. The NBA hadn’t seen a playoff blowout like this in more than 50 years. And the Hornets had better be embarrassed after being outplayed on their home court. Chris Paul was held to 4 points, 6 assists and 6 turnovers. David West had 14 points , Peja Stojakovic had 10, and James Posey had 12 points off the bench for the Hornets.
• Carmelo Anthony led the Nuggets with 26 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists, and six other Nuggets scored in double figures. Chauncey Billups, the orchestrator of Denver’s first two wins before having a quiet Game 3, had 17 points and 8 assists.
• The Denver Nuggets are rolling, and this win will be huge for their confidence. The only Hornets victory in this series has been by 2 points, while the Nuggets have won each of their 3 victories by double digits. They can close out the series when they play at Denver in Game 5.
• The Hornets have to be humiliated, and even though they have great talents in Paul and West, they don’t seem to have the mentality to compete. Still, it’s only one game, and I don’t expect another blowout, but I believe the Hornets will be hardpressed to get back in this series with Melo and Billups leading the way for the Nuggets.
• When these playoffs began, I already thought that the Hornets were one of the teams who didn’t have what it takes to advance. Sure, most people wrote off the Pistons (swept yesterday) or the Jazz (eliminated today) early, but I’m willing to bet that a lot of people thought this series would be closer. This game proves that these Nuggets, who won the 2nd seed in the tough West, are not just a fluke, and are ready to make some noise. They’ve got one game left to win before advancing, but I’m confident they can take care of business soon.

Utah Jazz 96 - LA Lakers 107

Los Angeles wins series 4-1

• I guess it really wasn’t a question of whether the Lakers would advance, but when. After ending the first period tied, the Lakers controlled the 2nd and 3rd periods on their way to the series-clinching victory. Kobe Bryant had 31 points, Lamar Odom had 26 points and 15 rebounds, and Pau Gasol had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers.
• Jazz point guard Deron Williams had 14 points and 6 assists, while Carlos Boozer only had 10 points and 9 rebounds, after averaging 23.2 points and 14.2 rebounds in the first 4 games.
• It’ll be a long summer for the Jazz, who figure to lose Boozer to free agency (but have young big man Paul Millsap waiting to take that starting spot). The Lakers now advance to the second round, and await the winner of the Rockets-Blazers series, while getting to rest the ailing Andrew Bynum.
• One qualm however: No Machine slamma-jamma bing-bong?