Eastern Conference

TITLE hopefuls Miami Heat drew first blood in their conference semi-final match up as they powered past the Indiana Pacers in a 95-86 Game 1 victory.

The dominant duo of James and Dwyane Wade combined for 61 points as the Heat appeared to have brush off their ‘Fourth Quarter Curse’, dictating the flow of the game down the stretch and appearing to score at will.

The Heat and Pacers got to the semis after similar 4-1 series victories over the New York Knicks and the Orlando Magic respectively; both sealing the clinical wins on home turf.

Coincidentally, the other semi-finalists — the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers — also emerged from the first round with similar series scoreline victories, claiming 4-2 triumphs over the Atlanta Hawks and the Chicago Bulls respectively.

The Celtics proved their mettle and grit in a 83-80 victory over the Hawks to secure the series while the 76ers stole it late in their Game 6 victory, edging ahead 79-78 over the Bulls and holding it for the dying seconds of the game.

The 76ers, who finished eighth in the conference, became only the fifth team in NBA history to overthrow the number-one seeded team in the first round, in this case the Bulls.

In the opening game of that series, the Celtics bounced back from a double-digit deficit to clinch a 92-91 victory. Rajon Rondo was again the most influential player on the court as he knocked down key baskets down the stretch to round off his triple-double performance of 13 points, 17 assists and 12 rebounds.

LA teams leaves it late

Western Conference

The Los Angeles Clippers blew two opportunities to close out their series against the Memphis Grizzlies, but produced an emphatic performance on the road to claim their franchises’ first Game 7 scalp.

The Clippers were leading 3-1 in the series and were hoping to close it out in Memphis but they failed to do so then lost 90-88 at home as the Grizzlies forced a Game 7.

With Chris Paul and Blake Griffin both suffering aches, however, the Clippers proved their hungrier of the two franchises as they bullied their way to an 82-72 victory. The win crushed the hopes of the Grizzlies faithful, who hoped to clinch the semi-final spot against the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs wrapped up their series against the Utah Jazz with an 87-81 victory on the road, capping an impressive first round display.

The Los Angeles Lakers, like their city counterparts, were forced to an undesired Game 7 in their first round contest. They also had a 3-1 lead over the Denver Nuggets before failing to close out the series at home or on the road.

After a dismal Game 6, where the Lakers big men of Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol were outmuscled, they turned it around significantly in the final game to blow by the Nuggets 96-87. If they continue on the same path they should make things difficult for their next opponents, the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The story of this semi-final match-up is whether the lack of competition in recent times will affect the Thunder or the fatigue of a Game 7 will cramp the efficiency of the Lakers, with the Thunder being out of action for over a week after their 4-0 sweep of the outgoing champions the Dallas Mavericks.

Notably, however, the Lakers are always an obstacle for the Thunder and after brushing aside the Mavs who knocked them out last year, they will be aiming to overcome the Lakers who booted them from the first round two play-offs ago.