Lakers eliminate Thunder

Pau Gasol tipped in a missed jumper by Kobe Bryant with a half-second left and the visiting Los Angeles Lakers survived a late comeback effort by Oklahoma City and eliminated the Thunder 95-94 in Game 6 of the first-round playoff series on Friday night.

Gasol crashed to the rim at the right block and tipped in Bryant's shot to put the defending NBA champions ahead after they squandered a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter.

Gasol pumped both fists after the basket, and the Lakers moved on when Russell Westbrook missed a desperation 3-pointer at the final buzzer.

The Lakers will host the Utah Jazz in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals Sunday.

Jazz 112, Nuggets 104: At Salt Lake City, Carlos Boozer had 22 points and 20 rebounds, rookie Wesley Matthews scored 23 and made a key block, and Utah pulled away late in the fourth quarter and beat Denver, winning the playoff series in six games.

Deron Williams added 14 points and 10 assists for the Jazz, who went on an 11-0 run after Carmelo Anthony had tied the game at 95-all midway through the final period.

Hawks 83, Bucks 69: Jamal Crawford broke out of a slump with 24 points, Joe Johnson added 22 points and Atlanta won at Milwaukee to force a seventh game in the first-round series.

Game 7 is Sunday in Atlanta.

Carlos Delfino scored 20 for the Bucks, who came into the game hoping to finish off their heavily favored opponent but instead went completely flat coming out of halftime. The Hawks outscored the Bucks 29-11 in the third quarter to take a 15-point lead.