INQUIRER Sports

DENVER - Carmelo Anthony scored 30 points and Chauncey Billups added 28 as Denver downed Dallas 124-110 on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) to advance in the National Basketball Association playoffs.

The victory gave the Nuggets a four games to one victory in their best-of-seven second-round series and their first trip to the Western Conference finals since 1985.

"It's special," Anthony said. "We worked hard in the offseason and training camp and throughout. We stuck to everything, we overcame adversity, we stayed humble and our hard work paid off."

Denver next face either the Los Angeles Lakers or the Houston Rockets, whose series was scheduled to continue on Thursday in Houston. The Lakers lead that series 3-2.

If the Lakers win, Denver will start the conference finals on the road, but against Houston they would be at home, where the Nuggets have won 16 straight games.