Basketball: Billups plays part

Chauncey Billups yesterday guided the resurgent Denver Nuggets to a first Western Conference basketball finals since 1985 with a 124-110 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

The guard recorded 28 points and 12 assists to complement Carmelo Anthony's team-high 30 points as the second-seeded Nuggets sealed the best-of-seven series 4-1 in front of their delighted home fans.

Denver will play the winner of the Los Angeles Lakers-Houston Rockets semifinal for a place in the NBA championships. The Lakers lead that series 3-2.