The pressure is back on the defending champions. Dwight Howardhad 23 points and 22 rebounds after challenging Stan Van Gundy's coaching strategy, and the Orlando Magicbeat the Boston Celtics83-75 on Thursday night to force a decisive Game7.
Chauncey Billups guided the resurgent Denver Nuggets to a first Western Conference finals since 1985 on Wednesday with a 124-110 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
Kobe Bryantneeded only three quarters to score 26 points and the Los Angeles Lakersbounced back from their Game 4 flop, routing the Houston Rockets118-78 on Tuesday night to take a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference semifinals.
The Boston Celtics staged a pulsating fourth-quarter comeback to beat the Orlando Magic 92-88 Tuesday and snatch a 3-2 lead in their Eastern Conference semi-final.
The Cleveland Cavaliers brushed aside the Atlanta Hawks 84-74 on Monday to sweep their NBA Eastern Conference semi-final series 4-0.
The Houston Rockets not only beat the Los Angeles Lakers without Yao Ming, they made it look easy. Aaron Brooks scored a career-high 34, Shane Battier sank five 3-pointers and added 23 and the Houston Rockets routed the Los Angeles Lakers 99-87 on Sunday to even their Western Conference semifinal.
Houston Rockets center Yao Ming will miss the remainder of the NBA playoffs with a broken left foot, the team said on Saturday.
Rafer Alston of Orlando and Derek Fisher of the Los Angeles Lakers were suspended for the next game of their NBA playoff series by the league on Thursday.
The Cleveland Cavaliers crushed the Atlanta Hawks 105-85 on Thursday to take a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Kobe Bryant scored a game-high 40 points to help the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Houston Rockets 111-98 on Wednesday and level their Western Conference semi-final series at 1-1.
Kobe Bryant scored 40 points, Pau Gasol added 22 points and 14 rebounds and the Lakers won Game 2 111-98 on Wednesday night to even the Western Conference semifinal series.
Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard and Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant headline the NBA All-Defensive First Team.
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