Sunday, May 3, 2009

watch NBA Live Streaming

Joe Johnson (pictured) scored 27 points to lead the Hawks to a victory over the Heat that saw them win their Eastern Conference first-round series 4-3.

It was yet another lopsided win in a series that produced little drama, despite going the maximum seven games.

All seven games saw just 15 lead changes total - and none after the first quarter and each was decided by at least 10 points.

A close first quarter ended with the Hawks ahead 20-18, and they moved on steadily from there. Atlanta led 49-36 by half-time and by as many as 29 points in the final quarter, reaching the second round for the first time in a decade.

The Heat, led by Most Valuable Player candidate Dwyane Wade, had forced game seven with a 98-72 victory on Friday.

Wade scored 31 points, but most of them came after Atlanta had established a comfortable cushion and it wasn't enough to extend Miami's season.

That the Heat were even back in the playoffs marked a remarkable turnaround from a woeful 15-67 record in their previous campaign.

Driving to the basket, Atlanta's Zaza Pachulia was seized around the neck by Miami forward Udonis Haslem, who was ejected for a flagrant foul.

Atlanta coach Mike Woodson, meanwhile, raced onto the court to make sure his players kept their cool, knowing he cannot afford to have anyone suspended when the Hawks take on the top-seeded Cavaliers in a series that starts on Tuesday.

Atlanta had not won a first-round series since a victory over Detroit in 1999.