ATLANTA, (Reuters) – The Atlanta Hawks cruised past  the Miami Heat 91-78 to win Game Seven of their Eastern  Conference opening series yesterday and advance to the second  round against top-seeded Cleveland.

The Hawks, led by Joe Johnson’s 27 points, will meet the  Cavaliers in the conference semi-finals beginning tomorrow in  Cleveland.

In the West, the Denver Nuggets rolled past the Dallas  Mavericks 109-95 to open their Western Conference semi-final  series.

In Atlanta, the Hawks closed an opening quarter and blew  open the game in the second.

The Hawks led by 13 points at intermission and stayed in  control the remainder of the contest. They were up by 29 with  about eight minutes to go.

Dwyane Wade scored 31 points for the Heat.

The second-round playoff appearance will be the first in a  decade for the Hawks, the fourth-seeded team in the East.

Johnson was particularly effective for Atlanta from  three-point range, hitting six of eight attempts for 18 of his  points.

Three team mates finished in double figures. Josh Smith  added 21 points and nine rebounds, Ronald Murray contributed 15  points and Mike Bibby provided 11.
Wade carried Miami with only Michael Beasley and Udonis  Haslem joining him in twin figures. Beasley had 17 points and  Haslem 14 points and 13 rebounds.

In Denver, Nene, the Nuggets’ Brazilian center, scored 24  points and Carmelo Anthony added 23.

Dirk Nowitzki had 28 points and 10 rebounds for Dallas.

Game Two is in Denver tomorrow.