Hawks take Game 7

The final blowout went to Atlanta, so it’s the Hawks who’ll get a shot at LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Joe Johnson scored 27 points to make up for a mostly disappointing series, and the Hawks won the first Game 7 ever played in Atlanta, beating Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat, 91-78, Sunday to advance to the second round of the NBA playoffs for the first time in a decade.

A series devoid of drama ended in appropriate fashion. After a back-and-forth first quarter that ended with Atlanta ahead 20-18, the Hawks pulled out to a 49-36 lead by halftime.

They might as well have started the celebration right then. There were only 15 lead changes in seven games -- not one of them after the opening period. Every game was decided by at least 10 points, and this one wasn’t nearly as close as the final margin.

The game grew ugly in the closing minutes. The Hawks’ Zaza Pachulia, who provided more quality minutes off the bench, drove to the hoop and was collared around the neck by Udonis Haslem. The Miami forward was tossed out of the game for a flagrant foul, while Atlanta Coach Mike Woodson charged onto the court to make sure no punches were thrown.

Denver 109, Dallas 95 -- Nene scored 18 of his career playoff-high 24 points in the first half, and the Nuggets raced past the Mavericks at Denver.

Carmelo Anthony scored 23 points, including a dunk off J.R. Smith’s behind-the-back assist that rocked the Pepsi Center in the closing minutes.

Smith had 15 points, leading a bench that outscored Dallas’ celebrated reserves, 38-24, before both teams emptied their benches in the meaningless final minutes.

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

Game 2 is Tuesday night at the Pepsi Center, where the Nuggets have won 14 straight games, including four in the playoffs. All four have been blowouts.