By Paul Levine May 2, 2006, 8:02 GMT
Los Angeles - The drought is over and the long-suffering Los Angeles Clippers have gone to a place where they haven't been in 30 years.
Los Angeles Clippers Sam Cassell (R) drives past Denver Nuggets Marcus Camby (L) in game five of their Western Conference first round playoff series at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California Monday 01 May 2006. EPA/PAUL BUCK
Cuttino Mobley and Corey Maggette scored 23 points as the Clippers rocked the Denver Nuggets, 101-83 on Monday night to win the opening round of their Western Conference playoff series 4-1.
Making their first playoff appearance in nine years, the Clippers advanced to the second round for the first time since 1976 when organization was known as the Buffalo Braves.
'It's a great feeling, it's still kind of surreal,' said Clippers All-Star forward Elton Brand, who collected 18 of his 21 points in the second half, and grabbed 13 rebounds. 'I might not really appreciate until we start that second round.
'But 30 years in the making, the fans really supported us, it feels good. We're trying to start our own tradition, and win some more playoff series.'
Chris Kaman and Sam Cassell scored 10 points apiece for the Clippers, while Shaun Livingston had eight points and 14 assists.
The Clippers await the winner of the LA Lakers-Phoenix Suns series in the Western Conference semifinals. The Lakers hold a 3-1 lead entering Tuesday night's road game.
'I feel that this team was made for the playoffs,' Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. 'Whoever our opponent is we can match up and defend them. That's not to say we're going to be the favourites but anybody we play knows we have the ability to beat them.'
Carmelo Anthony scored 23 points and Greg Buckner added 20 for Denver, which was eliminated in the first-round of the playoffs for the third straight year.
'The whole series was an embarrassing moment for us,' Anthony said. 'They didn't just beat us by two or three points in the games they won, they beat us by 20 or more. That's embarrassing.'
The Nuggets trimmed a six-point halftime deficit to 55-54 midway through the third quarter. But Maggette, Brand and Mobley scored six points apiece to ignite a game-breaking 29-7 run bridging the next 11 minutes of the third and fourth quarters for a commanding 84-61 cushion in front of a wildly cheering Staples Center crowd.
Elsewhere: Dallas Mavericks 102, Memphis Grizzlies 76: The Memphis Grizzlies etched their names into the NBA records book but not the way they wanted.
Dirk Nowitzki had 27 points and the Mavericks sent the Grizzlies to a record-setting 12th consecutive playoff loss for a 4-0 sweep in the opening round of their Western Conference best-of-seven series.
'It was very important for us to close this out tonight,' said Nowitzki, who averaged 31.2 points in the series. 'We wanted to get a lead and come out the second half with that killer instinct, and fortunately for us we were able to do so. Today we came out firing, and luckily for us, we're moving on.'
The Mavericks will face the winner of the San Antonio-Sacramento series, which is squared at two games apiece, in the conference semifinals.
Josh Howard had 24 points and Jerry Stackhouse added 19 for Dallas, which outscored Memphis by 17 in the second half en route to its first playoff sweep in franchise history.
Spaniard Pau Gasol scored 25 points for Memphis, which was swept out of the opening-round of the playoffs for the third consecutive year.
'I think every franchise has stepping stones,' said Grizzlies guard Chucky Atkins. 'It's always disappointing to get swept. We thought we had a legitimate chance going into the series. That's what hurts the most.'
Nowitzki scored 13 points helping Dallas to a 48-39 halftime lead despite 19 by Gasol.
The versatile 7-foot German All-Star added 12 more points in the game-breaking third quarter, extending the cushion to 79-61. The lead swelled to 30 in the final frame as the Mavericks completed the knockout punch.
'Unfortunately, we didn't play our best basketball, and they dominated the series,' Grizzlies coach Mike Fratello said. 'If they keep playing like that, they are going to be around the NBA playoffs this year for a long time.'
Detroit Pistons 109, Milwaukee Bucks 99: Chauncey Billups scored 13 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter, including a clutch 3-pointer and six free throws down the stretch to as the Pistons grabbed a 3-1 advantage in their Eastern Conference series.
Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince had 18 apiece for Detroit, which can wrap up the series at home on Wednesday night.
The Bucks led 86-85 lead on Joe Smith's jumper with 5:52 remaining. But Billups and Richard Hamilton nailed back-to-back 3- pointer in an 8-0 run to go ahead 93-86 with 3:47 remaining.
Michael Redd led the Bucks with 33 points and T.J. Ford had 21.
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