Every day during the NBA playoffs, the Triple Threat will break down the latest action as we get closer to awarding the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

Atlanta 103 Boston 100 Of all of the series', this is the last one any of us thought would need a Game 7. Atlanta has done the unthinkable and forced a Game 7 by taking care of business on their home floor and now we go to Boston for Game 7 on Sunday. The Hawks were 4 games under .500 on the regular season and finished 29 games behind the Celtics - but none of that matters now. Win the next game and you move on, lose and you go home. Josh Smith summed up how all of the Hawks felt going into these playoffs "It's definitely a dream, but we weren't going to be satisfied with just making the playoffs." Game 4 hero Joe Johnson hit the Hawks only three pointer of the game with 1:07 left. Johnson scored 15 points while Marvin Williams, who left early in the 4^th quarter after knocking knees with Paul Piece, led a balanced Hawks attack with 18. Kevin Garnett led the Celtics in every single statistical category but it wasn’t enough. It was a very bizarre game where the older, more experienced Celtics lost their cool while the young Hawks kept their composure and forced Game 7. Game 7 will be Sunday at 12:30pm on ABC.

Cleveland 105 Washington 88 LeBron James had a triple double by the end of the 3^rd quarter as the Cavs closed out the Wizards and now awaits the winner of the Atlanta/Boston series. LeBron earned his 3 career playoff triple double in only 39 career playoff games. LeBron summed up this very physical and tumultuous series with this quote:

"Cleveland is advancing. We won the series 4-2. That speaks louder than me saying anything about the fans here, anything about DeShawn Stevenson, Cleveland is advancing. That's all that matters."

While LeBron had this triple double, it was the emergence of Wally Szczerbiak that pushed the Cavs over the top. Wally scored 26 points while hitting 6 three pointers, adding to that was Daniel Gibson who hit 4 three pointers of his own. With those two guys hitting threes, it really opened up the lanes for LeBron to drive to the hole and finish, which is what LeBron does better than any player in the NBA. Antawn Jamison did everything that he could to keep the Wizards in this game, scoring 23 and pulling down 15 rebounds, but it was just not enough to overcome Cleveland’s big three of James, Szczerbiak, and Gibson. Now Cleveland waits to see who they will be facing in the 2^nd round.

Utah 113 Houston 91 Utah used a 3^rd quarter surge to pull away from the Rockets, advance to the 2^nd round to face the LA Lakers, and add yet another year where Tracy McGrady doesn't advance past the first round. Utah jumped out early in the 2^nd quarter to an 18 point lead but Houston battled back to pull within 4 points at the half. The 3^rd quarter is when Deron Williams scored 13 of his 25 points as the Jazz outscored the Rockets 27-11 and put this game out of reach for the Rockets. The Jazz will move on to face the Lakers in the 2^nd round, with that series starting on Sunday. Meanwhile, Tracy McGrady and the Rockets failed yet again to get out of the first round. McGrady did all that he could to force a Game 7 back, scoring 40 points, but he couldn't do it alone. McGrady is now 0-7 in playoff series' for his career.

Best Lines

• LeBron James: 27 pts, 13 rbs, 13 asts, 2 stls
  
• Deron Williams: 25 pts, 6-9 3FG, 9 asts, 6 rbs
  
• Mike Bibby: 17 pts, 7 asts, 6 rbs
  
• Tracy McGrady: 40 pts, 10 rbs, 5 asts
• Kevin Garnett: 22 pts, 7 rbs, 6 asts, 3 blks, 2 stls

On Tap
Game 1 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Orlando at Detroit at 7:30pm on TNT
Game 1 Western Conference Semifinals: San Antonio at New Orleans at 10pm on TNT

Breaking News At This Hour:

The LA Times is reporting that Kobe Bryant will be named the NBA MVP next week. Sources, who were not authorized to speak publicly about the award until the official announcement from the league, said that David Stern will be in LA next week to present Kobe with his first career MVP. Congratulations to Kobe for winning the MVP.