SCOREBOARD
Tuesday, May 19
Denver at L.A. Lakers (9 p.m. EDT). The Western Conference finals begin with the Lakers having struggled through a seven-game series against Houston, while the Nuggets beat Dallas in five.
STARS
Sunday
-Pau Gasol, Lakers, had 21 points, 18 rebounds and three blocks as Los Angeles eliminated the Rockets in Game 7 of its Western Conference series, 89-70.
-Dwight Howard, Magic, had 12 points, 16 rebounds and five blocked shots, leading Orlando into the Eastern Conference finals, 101-82 over Boston.
MATCHUPS
The Lakers will play the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference final beginning Tuesday night in Los Angeles. Los Angeles won the season series 3-1. ... The Magic visit the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference final that begins Wednesday night. Orlando won the season series 2-1.
STATS
The Lakers owned the backboards against the Rockets in Game 7 with a 55-33 rebounding advantage, and blocked 10 shots. ... Houston missed its first 12 shots in the 89-70 loss at Los Angeles. ... The team leading after the first quarter won all 13 of Houston's postseason games. ... Boston is now 17-4 in home Game 7s and had never lost a series it led 3-2. ... Orlando trailed for just 36 seconds Sunday night.
BYE-BYE
The Rockets, who advanced to the second round for the first time in 12 years, have lost to the Lakers in each of their last six playoff series since Ralph Sampson's buzzer-beater knocked Los Angeles out of the Western Conference finals in 1986 at the Inglewood Forum.
SPEAKING
"That we're bipolar." -- Kobe Bryant on what the Lakers learned from the seven-game series win over Houston.
"I would like to say we played the game exactly the way we wanted. We actually played it better. When you look at a team that's 32-0 when leading a series 3-2 and then you win by 19 points, that's a big win. I can't say that I've ever had one that I've ever been happier with." -- Magic coach Stan Van Gundy after a 101-82 victory in Game 7 at Boston.