Los Angeles Lakers guard, Kobe Bryant (centre), soars back to the bench after hitting a basket against the Denver Nuggets during the fourth quarter in Game Four of their first-round NBA play-off series on Monday night in Denver. The Lakers beat the Nuggets 107-101 to sweep the series 4-0. - AP

ORLANDO, Florida (AP):

DWIGHT HOWARD had 21 points and 21 rebounds and the Orlando Magic advanced to the NBA second-round play-offs for the first time in 12 years, beating the Toronto Raptors 102-92 in Game Five on Monday night.

It was Howard's third game with at least 20 points and 20 rebounds in the first-round series.

Raptors star, Chris Bosh, had 16 points and nine rebounds.

Quick move

The Magic will play the winners of the Detroit-Philadelphia series, which is tied 2-2, in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.

Keith Bogans and Jameer Nelson each hit a three-pointer and Howard added a lay-up as the Magic used an 8-0 run over a 3:13 span to open a 92-82 lead.

Nelson scored 19 points for Orlando and Rashard Lewis had 18 points and 13 rebounds.

In Atlanta, Joe Johnson scored 35 points - 20 in the fourth quarter - and Josh Smith added 28 points and seven blocks for Atlanta, which evened the best-of-seven series at two games apiece with a 97-92 win.

Game Five is tonight in Boston.

On the ropes

The Hawks, who had the worst record (37-45) of any playoff team, overcame two double-digit deficits to beat a team that won a NBA-leading 66 games during the regular season.

After Smith's jumper put the Hawks ahead to stay 81-79, Johnson scored nine straight points to keep the Celtics on the ropes.

Smith made two free throws with 26 seconds remaining for a 93-87 lead. Johnson finished off the Celtics by making two more foul shots with 14 seconds left.

Ray Allen led Boston with 21 points, and Kevin Garnett added 20.

In Denver, Kobe Bryant scored 14 of his 31 points over the final 5 1/2 minutes to lead Los Angeles to a sweep of their first-round series against Denver, 107-101.

Pau Gasol added 21 points in the Lakers' first sweep of a playoff series since whitewashing New Jersey in the 2002 NBA finals, the last time they won it all.

J.R. Smith scored 26 points for the Nuggets, who became the first 50-win team to ever be swept in the first round of the playoffs.

The Lakers will meet the winner of the Utah-Houston series, which the Jazz lead 3-1, in the Western Conference semi-finals.

Bryant scored nine straight points to give the Lakers a 97-96 lead. Luke Walton's wide-open three gave the Lakers a 100-96 lead with 2:37 left.