Eastern Conference:

Orlando 101 - Boston 82

Hedo Turkoglu led the Magic's offensive assault with 25 points and 12 assists to win over the defending champions, and advance to a date with the Cleveland Cavaliers. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Orlando wins series 4-3

• Finally, LeBron and the Cavs know who they’re facing in the Eastern Conference finals. The Magic rained threes throughout the game, finishing 13-21 from long range. Hedo Turkoglu had his best game of this postseason, burning the Celtics for 25 points (9-12 from the field, including 4-5 from long range) and 12 assists, and Mickael Pietrus had 17 points on 6-7 shooting (3-3 from long range) off the bench for Orlando, outscoring the entire Boston bench. Dwight Howard had 12 points, 16 rebounds and 5 blocks, but shot and made only 2 free throws while being bothered by foul trouble. Rashard Lewis shot poorly with a 5-14 clip, but scored 19 points for enough production to keep the Celtics at bay.
• Ray Allen had 23 points (9-18 shooting, 3-6 from long range) in what was essentially the only bright spot in a poor performance by Boston. The Celtics shot only .392 as a team verus Orlando’s .514 mark. Paul Pierce added 16 points (4-13 shooting), Rajon Rondo had 10 points, 6 rebounds and 10 assists, and Kendrick Perkins had 8 points (4-11 shooting) and 15 rebounds for Boston. Unlike the Magic, the Celtics did not get much from their bench, who combined for only 12 points. All the Celtics’ late game rallies were quenched by Hedo Turkoglu’s hot shooting.
• Boston’s record of being 32-0 when leading a series 3-2 is now blemished with this loss. Without Kevin Garnett and bench contributor Leon Powe, the Celtics couldn’t handle the Magic. Orlando had been showing signs of excellence and of mediocrity, losing large leads and playing carelessly, but this game will help the Magic psychologically with their upcoming series versus the Cavaliers. Magic fans will just have to hope that Dwight Howard stops jacking up hook shots and take it stronger to the basket. Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals is on Wednesday (Thursday morning, Manila time).

*****

Western Conference:

Houston 70 - Los Angeles 89

Pau Gasol led the way for the Lakers to advance to the Western finals and a match up with the Denver Nuggets. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Los Angeles wins series 4-3

• The Los Angeles Lakers silenced their critics with a dominating win over the Houston Rockets. Pau Gasol led the way on both ends of the court, with 21 points, 18 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Andrew Bynum had 14 points (6-7 shooting) and 6 rebounds in just under 23 minutes of play, and Trevor Ariza had 15 points and 5 rebounds. Kobe Bryant didn’t have a great shooting night, with only 14 points on 4-12 shooting, but added 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks for the Lakers.
• The Rockets seemed to have finally run out. Aaron Brooks was the top scorer already with only 13 points on 4-13 shooting. The hero of Game 6, Luis Scola, only managed 11 points (4-12 shooting) and 6 rebounds. Ron Artest had only 7 points on 3-10 shooting, and added 8 rebounds and 5 assists.  Von Wafer and Kyle Lowry combined to score 18 points off the bench for the Rockets.
• The Lakers came alive and did not waste their home court advantage after losing badly at Houston in Game 6. Los Angeles dominated the boards 55-33 and blocked 10 shots (to the Rockets’ 3 blocks). Their defense also held the Rockets to .368 shooting, and allowed them to lead 22-12 after the first quarter. The team leading at the end of the first quarter has gone on to win the game in all of the Rockets’ playoff games this postseason.
• The Lakers now face the waiting Denver Nuggets. The Lakers cannot afford to get complacent or relaxed, or show the inconsistency they’ve had against the Rockets, when battling Denver. The Nuggets are healthy and hungry, and are a different kind of team from the Rockets, who lost the offensive prowess of Yao Ming early in the series. Denver has the weapons, both offensively and defensively, to keep up with the Lakers, and are running on all cylinders with their dominating series victories over New Orleans and Dallas. Kenyon Martin, Nene, and Chris Andersen can match up against the Lakers frontcourt of Gasol, Bynum, and Lamar Odom. Both teams have an offensive genius (Bryant for the Lakers, and Carmelo Anthony for the Nuggets). Plus, the Nuggets have the leadership and skills of Chauncey Billups, which may be a big factor when against the older Derek Fisher and the young Jordan Farmar. Denver is still widely regarded as the underdogs, however, and they’ll be playing hard and with something to prove. Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals is on Tuesday (Wednesday morning, Manila time).