NBA Round Up
Published:Thursday | April 30, 2009 | 1:47 PM
Carmelo Anthony scored 34 points and Chauncey Billups led from the floor as the Denver Nuggets advanced to the second round of the NBA playoffs, with a 107-86 victory over the New Orleans Hornets last night.
After five straight first-round flameouts, Anthony led the Nuggets to their first playoff series win since 1994. They will face the Dallas Mavericks in the second round.
Dallas advanced to the Western Conference semifinals by defeating San Antonio in five games. Denver swept the season series with the Mavericks 4-0.
At Atlanta, the Atlanta Hawks moved closer to reaching the second round of the NBA playoffs for the first time in a decade by beating Miami Heat 106-91 to take a 3-2 lead in the series.
Joe Johnson led the Hawks with 25 points, Flip Murray added 23 points off the bench and Josh Smith had 20 points.
Dwayne Wade scored 29 points for Miami Heat, supported by Michael Beasley with 18 and Jermaine O’Neil with 16.
Game 6 will take place tomorrow in Miami.