NBA playoffs

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1 LAKERS (57-25) VS. 8 DENVER (50-32)

* Season series: Lakers, 3-0.

* Buzz: With the Lakers sweeping the Nuggets by an average of 16.3 points without Pau Gasol in any of them, there’s no getting away from who’s favored. The Nuggets, No. 2 in offense, are built for speed but don’t have the outside shooting (No. 19 in three-point accuracy). The Lakers are built to control tempo, socking the ball inside to Gasol or (perhaps one day?) Andrew Bynum. Happily for the Nuggets, they got better shooting in April with J.R. Smith averaging 16 points off the bench. Unhappily, Carmelo Anthony was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol within hours of clinching their playoff spot, adding public scorn to their list of problems.

Sunday ... Denver at Lakers, noon

Wednesday ... Denver at Lakers, 7:30 p.m.

April 26 ... Lakers at Denver, 2:30 p.m.

April 28 ... Lakers at Denver, 7:30 p.m.

April 30 ... Denver at Lakers, 7:30 p.m. *

May 2 ... Lakers at Denver, TBA *

May 4 ... Denver at Lakers, TBA *

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2 NEW ORLEANS (56-26) VS. 7 DALLAS (51-31)

* Season series: 2-2.

* Buzz: The Hornets’ reward for their incredible season was another first-round matchup none of the top-seeded teams was looking forward to, against the Mavericks. Not that the Mavericks ever became as good as some thought they would with Jason Kidd. After a l-o-n-g break-in period, Dallas put it together, beating the Suns in Phoenix and the Jazz in Dallas . . . before losing in Portland and, yes, Seattle. The Hornets lack size, depth and experience but with cool little Chris Paul, who went one-on-one with Kobe Bryant in the MVP race at 22, they’ll be ready.

Saturday ... Dallas at New Orleans, 4 p.m.

Tuesday ... Dallas at New Orleans, 4 p.m.

April 25 ... New Orleans at Dallas, 5 p.m.

April 27 ... New Orleans at Dallas 6:30 p.m.

April 29 ... Dallas at New Orleans, TBA *

May 1 ... New Orleans at Dallas, TBA *

May 3 ... Dallas at New Orleans, TBA *

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3 SAN ANTONIO (56-26) VS. 6 PHOENIX (55-27)

* Season series: Phoenix, 3-1.

* Buzz: In the Western nightmare everyone dreaded, it was the defending champion Spurs who won 56 games, finished third and found themselves matched with the Suns. The Suns won 15 of their last 20, going from small to imposing with Shaquille O’Neal and Amare Stoudemire, who averaged 29.6 points alongside O’Neal. The Spurs are experienced to a fault, with one starter, Tony Parker, under 30. They’re banged up too, with Brent Barry having played only four minutes since returning, and Manu Ginobili back after sitting out three of the last four games because of a groin injury. Without home-court advantage, the Spurs wouldn’t even be slightly favored and if they lose one of the first two, look out.

Saturday ... Phoenix at San Antonio, noon

Tuesday ... Phoenix at San Antonio, 6:30 p.m.

April 25 ... San Antonio at Phoenix, 7:30 p.m.

April 27 ... San Antonio at Phoenix, 12:30 p.m.

April 29 ... Phoenix at San Antonio, TBA *

May 1 ... San Antonio at Phoenix, TBA *

May 3 ... Phoenix at San Antonio, TBA *

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4 UTAH (54-28) vs. 5 HOUSTON (55-27)

* Season series: Utah, 2-1.

* Buzz: Careful what you wish for. The Rockets fell back to earth after their 22-game winning streak, becoming the team everyone wanted to play . . . before going on a late six-game winning streak that included a win over the Suns, the team no one wanted to play. The Rockets still defend (No. 4), and with newcomers such as Luis Scola and Carl Landry, they have a deep supporting cast for Tracy McGrady, still seeking his first win in a playoff series. The Jazz, last season’s West finalists, can score (No. 5). Utah started 16-16 but finished 38-12 behind the successors to Karl Malone and John Stockton, Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams.

Saturday ... Utah at Houston, 6:30 p.m.

Monday ... Utah at Houston, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday ... Houston at Utah, 7:30 p.m.

April 26 ... Houston at Utah, 7:30 p.m.

April 29 ... Utah at Houston, TBA *

May 2 ... Houston at Utah, TBA *

May 4 ... Utah at Houston, TBA *

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EASTERN CONFERENCE

1 BOSTON (66-16) vs. 8 ATLANTA (37-45)

* Season series: Boston, 3-0.

* Buzz: Talk about a speed bump, this is one of those gently rounded ones you can take at 30 mph. The Hawks, making their first playoff appearance since 1999, were (a little) better than their record, finishing 7-5, but the Celtics have more experience and defend like demons. Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, James Posey and Sam Cassell have played in a total of 30 postseasons. The Hawks have only two players -- Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson -- who’ve ever been in one. On sheer athleticism, the Hawks are actually better with Al Horford, Josh Smith and Marvin Williams up front. Unfortunately for them, this isn’t the Olympics.

Sunday ... Atlanta at Boston, 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday ... Atlanta at Boston, 5 p.m.

April 26 ... Boston at Atlanta, 5 p.m.

April 28 ... Boston at Atlanta, 5 p.m.

April 30 ... Atlanta at Boston, TBA *

May 2 ... Boston at Atlanta, TBA *

May 4 ... Atlanta at Boston, TBA *

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2 DETROIT (59-23) vs. 7 PHILADELPHIA (40-42)

* Season series: Season series: 2-2.

* Buzz: Not the complete mismatch people expected, with the Pistons winning 59 games and the 76ers getting in with a losing record. They started 18-30 but finished 22-12 by going small and athletic, beating the Pistons twice, including once in Auburn Hills. On the other hand, the 76ers cooled at the end, losing five of their last six. Detroit has been doing this a l-o-n-g time, with five Eastern finals appearances in a row and a starting lineup that has undergone one change (Antonio McDyess replacing Ben Wallace) in four seasons, backed by a deeper bench.

Sunday ... Philadelphia at Detroit, 3 p.m.

Wednesday ... Phila. at Detroit, 4:30 p.m.

April 25 ... Detroit at Philadelphia, 4 p.m.

April 27 ... Detroit at Philadelphia, 4 p.m.

April 29 ... Philadelphia at Detroit, TBA *

May 1 ... Detroit at Philadelphia, TBA *

May 3 ... Philadelphia at Detroit, TBA *

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3 ORLANDO (52-30) vs. 6 TORONTO (41-41)

* Season series: Orlando, 2-1.

* Buzz: Is this a playoff series or the first postseason three-point shooting contest? The Magic was No. 1 in threes this season and No. 4 in accuracy. The Raptors were No. 12 in makes and No. 2 in accuracy. The difference, aside from 11 games in the standings, is their post players, Toronto’s lithe Chris Bosh and Orlando’s scary-even-if-he’s-still-learning-the-game Dwight Howard. Howard’s 14.2-rebound average was the NBA’s best in five seasons and almost as much as Toronto’s top two, Bosh (8.7) and Jamario Moon (6.2), together. The Magic is on the rise, up from last season’s 40 wins. The Raptors are not, down from last season’s 47 wins, having lost 17 of their last 26.

Sunday ... Toronto at Orlando, 9:30 a.m.

Tuesday ... Toronto at Orlando, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday ... Orlando at Toronto, 4:30 p.m.

April 26 ... Orlando at Toronto, noon

April 28 ... Toronto at Orlando, 4:30 p.m. *

May 1 ... Orlando at Toronto, TBA *

May 3 ... Toronto at Orlando, TBA *

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4 CLEVELAND (45-37) vs. 5 WASHINGTON (43-39)

* Season series: 2-2.

* Buzz: Eyebrows went up as the Wizards courted disaster by sneering at the Cavaliers, with DeShawn Stevenson calling them “overrated” and Gilbert Arenas saying they were the team the Wizards wanted. TNT’s Charles Barkley called the Wizards “the dumbest team in history” for firing up LeBron James. The Cavaliers finished 15-12 after their big midseason trade as newcomers Ben Wallace, Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West struggled. The Wizards finished 16-8 and got Caron Butler and Arenas back. The Wizards are definitely deeper and supposedly more mature -- at least on the court. We’re about to see if they’re dumb or merely brash.

Saturday ... Washington at Cleveland, 9:30 a.m.

Monday ... Washington at Cleveland, 4 p.m.

Thursday ... Cleveland at Washington, 5 p.m.

April 27 ... Cleveland at Washington, 10 a.m.

April 30 ... Washington at Cleveland, TBA *

May 2 ... Cleveland at Washington, TBA *

May 4 ... Washington at Cleveland, TBA *