LAKERS SWEEP NUGGETS

 

(Image taken from NBA.com)

OK, we had three games played in the first round of the 2008 NBA playoffs and it looked like it might well be one of the longer ones. Only two series looked like they might be heading for sweeps, the rest were going five games at least. Game 4 of a playoff series is always going to be pivotal, is a team going to be swept or might the series go to the wire?

That main game to keep an eye on in the West had the Nuggets facing the Lakers in Denver. Well the Lakers looked to smash the Nuggets early on. The home side got within 2 at one point but that's as good as it got really with Pau Gasol running the show and grabbing 12 points in the first quarter alone. Lakers were leading 32-23 at the buzzer and the Nuggets had their work cut out.

Early in the second quarter the Lakers broke into double digits and as the clock wore on there still looked like there would be no Denver resistance. Late on in the quarter though the home side looked like they might make something resembling a last stand and cut the gap to six only with the Lakers to surge again to lead 64-54 at the half, Gasol on 18 points, Kobe Bryant backing him up on 15.

The Nuggets really got their act together in the third though, starting back nibbling at the LA lead, keeping it in single figures thanks largely to some solid defence but LA hung on in there and looked to wather the storm...only for Denver to go on to lead the game 75-73 late on in the quarter. A late Luke Walton jumper gave the Lakers a 79-77 lead at the buzzer though.

The Nuggets stuck with it in the fourth though and the Lakers knew they were still in a match right up to the tail end, the home side tying the game three times before taking a 96-95 lead. Kobe had other ideas though and basically took over to steer the Lakers home, collecting 31 points, Gasol adding 21 and Lamar Odom 14. Lakers win the game 107-101, sweep the series 4-0(their first sweep since '02) and the Nuggets need to learn how to play playoff basketball!

Elsewhere, the Hornets beat the Mavs 97-84 in Dallas to lead that series 3-1 and leave Dirk Nowitski and crew with their work cut out. The Suns beat the Spurs 105-86 in Phoenix to save themselves from a sweep though the Spurs still lead the series 3-1. The Jazz beat the Rockets 86-82 in Utah to lead their series 3-1 with the Rockets having their work cut out again.

In the East, well the Hawks beat the Celtics 97-92 in Atlanta to tie their series at 2-2. The Pistons beat the Sixers 93-84 in Philadelphia to tie their series at 2-2. The Magic beat the Raptors 106-94 in Toronto to lead their series 3-1 after four games and the Cavs beat the Wizards 100-97 in Wadhington to lead their series 3-1 with the hope of finishing their opponents off in Cleveland.

One conference semi finalist found, seven to go!

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