MAGIC, HORNETS, SPURS SECURE CONFERENCE SEMIS SPOTS

 

Well the Lakers have already made it , so that leaves seven ties and fourteen teams having to endure a first round Game 5 in the 2008 NBA playoffs. Of those at least some ties won't even be settled with a Game 5 but there were certainly enough teams on the brink. It's back to where the series all began where in theory the stronger side could kill the underdogs off.

In the East, the Magic faced the Raptors in Orlando. The Magic opened up with a 10-2 run but the Raptors were in no mood to lie down and had the edge over the home side in the first quarter. In the second quarter the Magic looked to nibble their way back in the second but a solid Toronto performance led by TJ Ford on 12 points gave the Canadian side a 50-49 halftime led. This series was not done yet.

The Raptors opened the scoring in the third to make it 52-49 but the Magic had other ideas. The visitors had no answer to a Magic surge that suddenly left them with their work cut out going into the fourth. After that, credit where credit's due, they kept it tight. Dwight Howard though has cemented his place in the NBA elite this season, leading his team in this game with 21 points. Magic won the game 102-92 and the series 4-1 to leave their fans flashing back to their Shaq era of the early-mid 90s!

Out West, the Hornets faced the Mavs in New Orleans. The surprise package Hornets were in no mood for mercy and surged to a double digit lead in the first quarter, the Mavs attempted a comeback and tied the game at 32 however the Hornets just took over again as the half wore down, David West leading them with 14 points to a 54-39 halftime lead.

The Mavericks weren't done yet though, they blitzed the Hornets in the third and brought the deficit back down to single digits. The Hornets came came to re-extend their lead early in the fourth but the Mavs went on another run and brought the deficit down to three points in the closing seconds of the game! Peja Stojakovic sealed their fate with two free throws though, Hornets won the game 99-94 and the series 4-1.

The Spurs faced the Suns in San Antonio. The early stages of the first quarter were tight but by the end of the first quarter the Spurs had a definate edge. The Suns took their first lead of the game in the second quarter, and though the Spurs battled, the Suns were still leading 43-40 in the latter stages. The Spurs then surged though to a 54-45 halftime lead, led by Tony Parker's 20 points.

The Suns had no choice but to go all out in the second half and as a result they dominated the third quarter and turned the game around to lead 72-69. In the fourth quarter the Spurs started to come back but it wasn't till midway in the final quarter that they turned the game round again and the Suns still fought them all the way. However, Parker finished with 31 points backed up by Tim Duncan on 29. The Spurs won the game 92-87, the series 4-1 and will face the Hornets in the conference semis.

Elsewhere, in the East, the Celtics beat the Hawks 110-85 in Boston to lead the series 3-2. The Pistons beat the Sixers 98-81 in Detroit to lead the series 3-2. The Wizards beat the Cavs 88-87 in Cleveland to save their skins but the Cavs still lead the series 3-2. In the West, the Rockets beat the Jazz 95-89 in Houston but the Jazz still lead the series 3-2.

Four down, four to go!

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