Magic, Lakers complete four-game sweeps

The Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers capped their total domination of their NBA playoffs series opponents on Monday, completing four-game sweeps over the Atlanta Hawks and Utah Jazz respectively.

The Magic improved to 8-0 in the playoffs with a 98-84 victory over the Atlanta Hawks and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they will meet the winner of the series between the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Orlando beat the Hawks by a combined 101 points, the largest margin for a four-game sweep in the NBA playoffs.                

"We've been working hard to get better and we have to continue to do that if we want to win a championship," Orlando centre Dwight Howard told reporters. "I like the way this team is working and staying humble at the same time."

Vince Carter scored a team-high 22 points for the Magic, who made 16 three-pointers and led from start to finish.                                           

Jamal Crawford had 18 points to lead the Hawks, who lost in the second round for a second consecutive season, and face a number of organisational questions ahead of next season. 

Leading scorer Joe Johnson, who will be a free agent, was booed loudly after making disparaging comments about the Atlanta crowd following a Game Three loss, while head coach Mike Woodson''s contract is also up and he could depart as well.  

In the Western Conference, the Lakers completed a 4-0 series sweep of the Jazz with a clinical 111-96 victory.                                           

Pau Gasol dominated an undersized Jazz team with 33 points and 14 rebounds while Kobe Bryant recorded 32 points to lead the NBA champions to the Western Conference Finals where they will meet the Phoenix Suns.

"We know it will be a tough series, and we want to get everyone as healthy as possible," Gasol said.

"With this next week of rest we should be able to do that."