Carter paces Magic in sweep of Hawks

The Orlando Magic is playing like a team that will settle for nothing less than its first NBA championship.

Vince Carter had 22 points to lead another dominant performance by the Magic, which finished off its second straight playoff sweep with a 98-84 win over the host Atlanta Hawks last night.

"Guys are just focused. It's unbelievable to see," Carter said. "This is my opportunity for a championship."

Orlando won the four games by an average of 25 points - a total blowout that no one could have expected in a matchup between the teams that finished second and third in the Eastern Conference.

But the Magic, which lost to the Lakers in last year's NBA Finals, is playing better than anyone at the most important time of the season. Orlando has won 14 in a row - the last eight in the playoffs - and 28 of 31 games.

"We would have to be playing at our absolute, absolute best - like, mistake free - to beat that team," said Jamal Crawford, who led Atlanta with 18 points. "That team is a great team. They have as good a chance as any to win a championship."

The Magic is off to the Eastern Conference finals for the second year in a row and will face either Boston or have a rematch with Cleveland, the team it upset for last year's conference title before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals.- AP