NBA: Lakers edge Nuggets to advance
The Los Angeles Lakers will meet the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semi-finals after edging the Denver Nuggets 96-87 on Saturday evening.
Pau Gasol, with 23 points and 17 rebounds, was one of five Los Angeles players in double figures for points along with Steve Blake (19), Kobe Bryant (17), Andrew Bynum (16) and Metta World Peace (15), as the Lakers wrapped up their first-round series 4-3.
Denver clawed their way back into the game after trailing by 16 points in the second half, but fell just short despite 24 points apiece from Ty Lawson and Al Harrington.
In Saturday's other game, Kevin Garnett poured in a season-high 29 points as the Boston Celtics opened their Eastern Conference semi-final series against the Philadelphia 76ers with a 92-91 triumph.
Garnett also had 11 rebounds, while Rajon Rondo had 13 points, 12 rebounds and 17 assists - his eighth post-season triple-double - to give Boston the perfect start to the best-of-seven series.
Andre Iguodala led the underdog 76ers with 19 points and Evan Turner added a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.