MVP James scores 34, Cavaliers beat Hawks 99-72

Over in the Eastern Conference semifinal, the Cleveland Cavaliers took on the Atlanta Hawks in their playoff opener. Before the match, Lebron James accepted the Maurice Podoloff Trophy from David Stern as the NBA's newest MVP.

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basketballseriesinCleveland,OhioMay5,2009.REUTERS/Aaron
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Despite not playing a game for nine days, James exploded at the start of the match, scoring 16 points in the first quarter to give the Cavs the lead for good.

In an exhibition of why he was voted the league's best player by a landslide, James added 10 rebounds, three assists and four steals.Mo Williams added 21 points, as the top-seeded Cavs finally won their fifth straight lopsided game 99-72.

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Cavaliers crush Hawks in playoff second round opener

WASHINGTON, May 5 (Xinhua) -- NBA's MVP winner LeBron James scored 34 points Tuesday to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a lop-sided 99-72 victory over the Atlanta Hawks in their Eastern Conference second round opener.

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James, who beat the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat for the MVP honor on Monday, also had 10 rebounds, four steals and three assists.

All-Star forward had 16 of his points in the first quarter, which gave the NBA's top regular-season team a lead that was never threatened.

Leading 49-44 at halftime, Cleveland turned up the pressure, outscoring the Hawks 50-28. The visitors scored 11 points in the fourth quarter.

Mo Williams added 21 points and Delonte West had 13 for the Cavaliers, who host Game Two on Thursday.

Josh Smith had 22 points for Atlanta and Mike Bibby contributed19.

Cleveland had not played since April 26 after sweeping the Detroit Pistons 4-0 in the opening round of the playoffs. Atlanta was taken to a deciding Game Seven by the Miami Heat before winning the series 4-3 on Sunday.

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Rockets outmuscle Lakers 100-92 in series opener

Yao Ming, who briefly left with a knee injury in the closing minutes, had 28 points and 10 rebounds, to lead the Houston Rockets to a physical 100-92 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.

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Ron Artest added 21 points and Aaron Brooks had 19 for the Rockets.

Kobe Bryant, who finished a distant second to LeBron James in NBA MVP voting announced earlier on Monday, scored 32 points, doing his best to keep the Lakers in the game despite missing practice on Sunday with a sore throat.

Houston forward Shane Battier needed four stitches to close a gash over his left eye late in the first quarter.

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Denver down Mavericks to win playoff second round opener

WASHINGTON, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The Denver Nuggets clinched the second round opener in the NBA playoffs on Sunday with an emphatic 109-95 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

Denver's Brazilian forward Nene scored 18 of his career playoff-high 24 points in the first half as Denver took a 51-47 halftime lead.

Carmelo Anthony scored 23 points as the Nuggets took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference semi-final series.

Dirk Nowitzki led Dallas with 28 points and 10 rebounds, while Josh Howard, Jason Kidd and Jason Terry scored 15 points apiece.

The Nuggets host game two on Tuesday, hoping to extend their home winning streak to 14 games, including four in the post-season.

Denver appeared poised to run away with it in the third period, as their defense manufactured several fast break baskets.

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Kuznetsova ends two-year title drought, winning Porsche Gp Stuttgart

In the women's game, Svetlana Kuznetsova has ended a two-year title drought by winning Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart.

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Stuttgart,May3,2009.Kuznetsovawonthe
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The final was an all-Russian affair, with Kuznetsova facing off against Dinara Safina. Both players held their opening service games. But Safina missed three quick break points in Kuznetsova's second service game. Safina then blasted a backhand into the net to give Kuznetsova the first set 6-4.

Safina threw some powerful and accurate ground-strokes at her opponent, forcing some break points but not being able to convert therm. Kuznetsova was in a more clinical mood as she built up a 4-2 lead.

A forehand smash helped Kuznetsova wrapped up a 6-4, 6-3 victory.