U.S. Sports Desk, Apr 25 (EFE).- Point guard Tony Parker had a big night individually and smoothly orchestrated his team's offense as the San Antonio Spurs cruised past the Los Angeles Lakers 102-91 to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven, first-round playoff series. Parker scored 28 points on 9-of-20 shooting from the field Wednesday night at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, including 24 in the second half, to lead five Spurs players in double figures.

Carmelo Anthony carried his late-season scoring assault into the post-season Saturday, netting 36 points in the New York Knicks' 85-78 victory over Boston in the opener of their first-round series. Anthony shot 13-of-29 from the field and added a half-dozen rebounds and four steals for the Knicks, who were swept by Boston in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs two years ago. The game was the first of two Eastern Conference contests on the opening day of the playoffs, with the Brooklyn Nets also hosting the Chicago Bulls.

The Boston Celtics regular season-ending home game on Tuesday against Indiana has been canceled after deadly explosions rocked the Boston Marathon, the NBA announced Monday. The game, which was set to be played at the downtown Garden arena just blocks from the site of the blasts, would not be re-scheduled, the league said. The move follows the National Hockey League's decision to postpone Monday night's contest between the Boston Bruins and the Ottawa Senators.

Miami superstars LeBron James and Dwyane wade sat out the NBA's marquee match-up against San Antonio on Sunday, but Chris Bosh provided enough star power to lift the Heat to an 88-86 victory. Reigning NBA champions and Eastern Confernce leaders Miami forged a three-game advantage over Western Conference leaders San Antonio for the best record in the league and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. They have also swept the season series with the Spurs, earning the head-to-head tiebreaker for home-court.